When choosing an Assisted Living Community, families may forget to ask a very important question :
What happens in the facility if there is an emergency or natural disaster?
While assisted living facilities may have every health emergency covered under their contingency plans, other emergencies can cause different sets of problems. Strong storms can spawn tornadoes, produce hail and damaging winds. Winter storms in some areas may bring blizzard-like conditions. Earthquakes and floods are very real threats in many parts of the world.
In the new millennium, science has opened the way for advanced technology to help humans determine when and where natural disasters will strike. The technologies are not 100% accurate and many emergencies can happen without warning. Still, chances are, that the assisted living community where you or your loved one will reside probably will not be affected by a disaster to a severe extent. However, all assisted living facilities should have plans in place to deal with the specific types of emergencies that can affect their locality.
Make sure your assisted living community has proper emergency plans in place
Those in areas where snowfall and freezing tempatures are normal during the winter months, should have a plan for blizzard conditions. ALFs in places where wildfires happen should have a special plan for re-locating residents. The list is extensive, but every individual that lives in an area prone to certain types of natural disasters should be aware of their local weather and ask the ALF administrative staff:
What plans do you have in place for_________?
FEMA and The American Red Cross offer many tips on their websites for all people in the time of natural disasters. To determine if the plans of the assisted living community you are considering has a strong disaster/emergency plan in place, ask to review it. The plan should cover the tips from these two agencies for the area the ALF is located in.
The facility should review their policy/plan at least once a year. Suggestions from State and Federal governments can change, so an annual review, along with updates if needed, are essential. A strong and capable ALF will have a comprehensive plan in place to protect the well being of the residents. An ALF without a plan or plans to cover natural disasters should be questioned. Every locality is prone to one type of disaster or another. Not having a plan in place is a dangerous situation for both staff and residents. Make sure the assisted living providers you are considering have the proper plans and procedures in place.
[...] agency. The safety of all residents should be a top priority for ALFs. As we discussed in our Dealing with Emergencies and Natural Disasters post, the proper plans and precautions are needed to be in [...]