| An elderly person can label just about anything that | | | | and to where will residents be relocated? What |
| creates inconvenience or discomfort a disaster, so | | | | transportation resources has the residence identified? |
| the word "disaster" in a nursing home or assisted | | | | How will the facility insure that medications and |
| living residence is a relative term. | | | | medical charts do not become separated from the |
| However, the world being what it is, sooner or later | | | | individual residents? What permanent identification will |
| there will be something that requires an evacuation or | | | | residents wear? How will families or responsible |
| an emergency accommodation in any senior | | | | parties be notified? What is the assisted living or |
| residence. When you're looking for the right place for | | | | nursing home plan if many staff members are not at |
| an elderly loved one, how a potential residence has | | | | work because they are dealing with the same |
| prepared for a "disaster" is just as important as the | | | | evacuation issues at home? |
| other things on your checklist. Yet, disaster | | | | EVALUATING WHAT YOU HEAR |
| preparedness rarely appears on most facility | | | | The facility administrators are usually the best people |
| assessment checklists. | | | | to answer your questions about emergency |
| FAST EMERGENCY EVACUATION | | | | preparedness in an assisted living residence or a |
| If there is a fire, tornado, earthquake or other | | | | nursing home. Employees responsible for marketing |
| emergency that happens without notice, what is the | | | | are not often as well informed. |
| evacuation plan? Where will residents go if the | | | | Once you have obtained all the information you can |
| weather is too bad to remain outdoors? If the facility | | | | from the administrator, talk with two or three actual |
| is multi-story, how will residents who need help get | | | | caregivers. Ask them what they have practiced for |
| down the stairs without an elevator? If the situation | | | | emergency evacuations. Compare their answers to |
| happens at night, how will the reduced staff move | | | | what the administrator told you. If you can, try to |
| everyone quickly? | | | | ask someone who works the night shift, when there |
| Assisted living residences usually have a more mobile | | | | are far fewer caregivers in the building. |
| population than nursing homes. If your senior has a | | | | Be sure to ask these questions evaluate any senior |
| specific mobility problem, how would the residence | | | | care residence. If your loved one is already a |
| manage your loved one along with all of the other | | | | long-term care resident, make sure you ask these |
| residents who will also need help? | | | | questions as soon as you can. If there is a regular |
| PLANNED EMERGENCY EVACUATION | | | | family meeting, bring these questions to the next |
| If there is time to plan, such as for an expected | | | | one so everyone can hear the answers. |
| hurricane or extended loss of electrical power, how | | | | |