Weather Preparedness

Senior Living Industry Focus

By Cutright Elizabeth on Feb 1, 2016 in News

One nerve-wracking decision many facility administrators face during an emergency is whether to keep residents on site, or begin evacuations. When both options appear equally risky, it helps to take stock of the current locale and determine whether you have the necessary resources to provide adequate care for your residents.

Make sure the facility’s security has not been compromised, and that backup power supplies are functioning properly. Review supplies, inventory medications, and make an account of all medical equipment. Survey staff to make sure you have enough hands on deck to meet all resident needs. Finally, consult with local agencies, including fire and police, to determine whether it is safer to stay or go.

In some cases, the safest course of action is to transport residents and staff to another location. It is essential to establish in advance how relocation will be coordinated. Prioritize resident evacuation so that those with special needs can receive adequate medical attention during the move. Keep your list of relocation sites regularly updated, including transportation routes and contact information for ambulance and security services.

Equally important is providing alternative transportation for offsite staff in the event an emergency restricts public transportation.

Teri Marinko, senior vice president of customer engagement at Boston-based Benchmark Senior Living faced just that situation during the Boston Marathon Bombing when the city shut down public transit. As she told Caring.com, the takeaway lesson was clear, “During an emergency, it’s particularly important to make sure there is a plan to transport staff to the facility.”

Keeping Contact

It’s always a good idea to make the residents and their family aware of your safety procedures so that during times of crisis everyone understands what’s happening and how to make contact or gather additional information about residents.

Mitigate risks and avoid confusing by keeping your residents informed on procedures and emergency information. Make contact information readily available, and clearly mark all exits, evacuation routes, and emergency gathering spots. Schedule regular meetings to go over emergency procedures and encourage residents to ask questions and voice concerns.

Teamwork Counts

For Benchmark Senior Living, establishing a Crisis Response Team made up of senior leaders from Operations, Resident Care/Nursing, Facilities Management, Dining Services and Customer Experience was a crucial first step for the facility’s overall emergency strategy. The team coordinates and communicates with residents, staff and family to provide “a high level of confidence in the safety and well-being of your loved one.”

To keep the lines of communication open, the Information Technology Group has the capacity to route phones to unaffected Benchmark locations (such as the corporate office or a designated cell phone), allowing families and offsite staff to remain in contact with the community. Benchmark even has an email notification system in place as part of their Emergency Communication System via Benchmark Connections, providing another option for family members seeking information on a resident.

Benchmark works with local town officials, including the Fire Marshal, police department and local hospital so that shelter options and additional medical care can be quickly and easily provided. Benchmark’s medication management policy includes extra medications along with agreements with backup pharmacies to ensure residents have proper medical care.

Finally, during and after the storm the facility is primed for immediate maintenance and clean up, including snow removal equipment and properly maintained and fueled vehicles for transit and supply retrieval.

Preparing for the Unexpected

In the aftermath of Hurricane Sandy, a striking image emerged of the Manhattan skyline: without power, murky buildings stood in solemn silhouette against the evening sky. Amidst those darkened high-rises, a few buildings stood out like a beacons – windows shining in the darkness as backup power kicked and generates rumbled awake.

For those properties, advanced planning paid off, but across town, several critical care facilities floundered, including one hospital tasked with evacuating critical patients down pitch-black staircases. Because of unprecedented storm surges, the hospital’s basement flooded, stalling generators, causing a blackout, and triggering a scene “reminiscent of Hurricane Katrina.”

Plenty of New York facilities planned and prepared for the worst, but sometimes the worst is more than anyone can anticipate. That’s why it’s important to aim for adaptability even as you prepare for every possible scenario.

“No matter how well-prepared you may be for a disaster, the situation will be infinitely more complicated by the nature of assisted living conditions,” explains Shelton.

“The most important thing to do during a disaster is to remain flexible, even when following a plan. Understanding the nature of your plan and the disaster at hand will help all communities work through a disaster.”