Human and Social Impacts of Disasters on Residential Aged Care Facilities and Their Residents
Tracks
Gold Coast Ballroom
| Tuesday, July 28, 2026 |
| 2:40 PM - 3:00 PM |
| Gold Coast Room |
Overview
Annabelle Johnsone, Churchill Fellow
Details
Three Key Learnings
1. Don't lose sight of the fact that a residential aged care facility is 'home' to the people who live there.
2.The resident, client or consumer is a person first and foremost. Services and support providers should always focus on the person’s needs and not the needs of the residential aged care facility.
3. The importance of including the aged care sector in disaster management groups, planning, training and exercises at all levels.
Speaker
Mrs Annabelle Johnsone
Churchill Fellow
Winston Churchill Trust
Human and social impacts of disasters on residential aged care facilities and their residents.
Abstract
As a community we want to ensure that our vulnerable and cherished older members of the community, those who live in residential aged care, are supported during and after disasters.
Residential aged care facilities face a number of challenges especially in terms of their preparedness and capacity to cope during disaster events. Whilst preparedness for disasters is required under Commonwealth aged care accreditation, this often amounts to a home’s internal capacity rather than its demonstrated participation in the disaster management system as a whole. The disaster management system rarely anticipates the needs of nursing homes before, during and after a disaster and there are few examples if any of nursing home operators participating in disaster and emergency management training and exercises across Australia.
In October 2025, I undertook a Churchill Fellowship to the United States of America to investigate the human and social impacts of disasters on aged care facilities and their residents. My research looked at how aged care facilities cope with disasters and emergencies; their responsibilities and how they operate when a disaster hits; how care providers support and care for their residents during and following the disaster; evacuation verse shelter in place; and what does support for residents look like during and after a disaster. I also looked at the needs of residents with special needs in particular those with dementia and those with mobility issues.
My research explored the lived experiences of those in the United States of America before during and after a natural disaster and what human and social safety nets are in place to deal with these disasters. My report outlines my findings and provides recommendations on best practice for industry and government to consider in Australia.
Residential aged care facilities face a number of challenges especially in terms of their preparedness and capacity to cope during disaster events. Whilst preparedness for disasters is required under Commonwealth aged care accreditation, this often amounts to a home’s internal capacity rather than its demonstrated participation in the disaster management system as a whole. The disaster management system rarely anticipates the needs of nursing homes before, during and after a disaster and there are few examples if any of nursing home operators participating in disaster and emergency management training and exercises across Australia.
In October 2025, I undertook a Churchill Fellowship to the United States of America to investigate the human and social impacts of disasters on aged care facilities and their residents. My research looked at how aged care facilities cope with disasters and emergencies; their responsibilities and how they operate when a disaster hits; how care providers support and care for their residents during and following the disaster; evacuation verse shelter in place; and what does support for residents look like during and after a disaster. I also looked at the needs of residents with special needs in particular those with dementia and those with mobility issues.
My research explored the lived experiences of those in the United States of America before during and after a natural disaster and what human and social safety nets are in place to deal with these disasters. My report outlines my findings and provides recommendations on best practice for industry and government to consider in Australia.
Biography
Annabelle Johnstone is a human and social recovery practitioner with 20 years’ experience. Annabelle works with individuals, families and communities who have been impacted by natural disasters and guides them through their recovery journey. Annabelle has played a critical role is coordinating human and social support services following some of Queensland’s biggest disasters. Annabelle has seen firsthand how disasters impact vulnerable older members of the community especially those living in residential aged care facilities. Annabelle is passionate about ensuring that residents of aged care facilities are safe and secure during and well supported following disasters.
