Senior Survival

Hurricane Maria

By Cutright Elizabeth on Oct 23, 2017 in News

In the aftermath of Hurricane’s Maria’s devastating impact on Puerto Rico, residents and staff at three senior living communities continue to face challenges, and find new sources of strength. A Yardi client in Puerto Rico shares their story.

As Category 4 Maria hurtled towards Puerto Rico, three Insignia Senior Living communities initiated their disaster plan and began communicating with residents and family members. By the time the storm made landfall on September 20, its unprecedented strength meant even the best-laid plans called for some improvisation and cooperation on behalf of residents and staff.

“No amount of preparation could have helped us anticipate all the challenges that we have been facing,” says Insignia Senior Living CEO Milton L. Cruz. “We have had to make a lot of adjustments to our plans, always using our best judgment.”

A Continuing Crisis

Though Hurricane Maria’s reign of terror ended weeks ago, the residents of Puerto Rico are still dealing with the aftermath of the storm’s impact. Over 80 percent of the island is still without power, and according to FEMA, residents are currently coping with low medicine supplies and a daily shortfall of 1.8 million meals.

For Cruz and the residents who depend on him, the continuing crisis in Puerto Rico – especially the lack of dependable power – poses life-threatening risks.

“While Hurricane Maria made landfall weeks ago, we are still facing the aftermath today as strongly as we did the day after the storm,” he says. “This isn’t over, and it will take months, if not years, to rebuild the island.”

“This was a truly catastrophic event, and we will need a lot of help and support from our fellow US citizens.”

Staff Saves the Day

Though the precautions and protocols established by Insignia’s Puerto Rico communities allowed residents and staff to weather the storm in relative safety, for Cruz, his team’s positive outlook and cooperative spirit proved incalculable.

“Our team faced this challenge with resiliency and a good attitude,” he says. “While our associates were experiencing their own personal hardships as a result of the storm, they still arrived at work full of energy and enthusiasm.”

Cruz believes all three communities’ ability to react quickly as the storm intensified, ensuring the resident’s safety while managing to maintain essential operations, highlights how Insignia’s employees remain committed to the company’s goal of providing superior and responsive care to residents.

“This has been a learning experience in many respects,” says Cruz. “It has taught us about the importance of ensuring that we are surrounding ourselves and our senior living communities with the right people.”

“Not only can we depend on trustworthy and reliable suppliers – who have been essential throughout this crisis – but our staff has proven they are truly invaluable. Our team includes staff and associates committed to our residents, to the point of leaving everything personal behind to make sure our seniors are well taken care of. Even our executive directors have moved into our communities to ensure things continue to run as smoothly as they can despite current circumstances.”

“People like that are priceless. We truly hit the jackpot, and we are lucky to have them.”

A New Normal

For now, Cruz says residents and staff are adjusting to “the island’s new normal.” That means finding alternate ways to get around minimal phone reception and lack of internet access and allowing associates to bring children to work while schools remain closed.

“With limited services and resources, our staff and associates have gone back to basics,” explains Cruz. “We have resorted to old methods of communication and our rules are more flexible.”

Unfortunately, Cruz worries the island will soon face an even more significant humanitarian catastrophe if power and access to medical care continue to be scarce. All three communities are still without power, and supplying safe drinking water, and access to critical supplies like oxygen tanks continues to be difficult. In addition, poor phone reception means family members are struggling to stay in contact with their loved ones.

“We are still facing the same difficulties we faced the day after the storm,” Cruz reiterates. “Only now, we are now encountering a health crisis as well. Infectious diseases like scabies and conjunctivitis are on the rise. These are the realities.”

“Civil society is facing devastation, desolation, fear and, most of all, uncertainty,” he continues. “Puerto Rico has a tough road ahead, including rebuilding infrastructure and strategizing for sustainable solutions moving forward.”

As the disaster in Puerto Rico deepens, silver linings are hard to come by, but Cruz does believe his residents and staff will not only survive but come out of the crisis tougher and more united.

“This crisis has helped us all realize our unifying purpose,” he says. “Now we truly understand the value of our mission, to provide safe and joyful environments where seniors feel loved and valued. We have realized that if we truly follow these words, focusing on providing the best possible care becomes easier, even in the face of all the challenges we must overcome.”

“We are now stronger than ever.”