It seems like nowhere in the country these days is safe from extreme weather conditions and natural disasters. Kentuckians are certainly no strangers to storms, floods, fires and more.
If you have a loved one in a nursing home, you should be able to count on the management and staff of the facility to have a plan to keep residents safe in an emergency or in conditions that might involve loss of power for hours or even days. You should also be able to count on them to get those in their care evacuated to a safe location if necessary.
We’ve seen all too often, in disasters from one coast of the country to the other, that this isn’t always the case. There have been cases where vulnerable residents had to endure extreme heat or cold due to lack of backup generators, were left outside in the elements or completely abandoned by staff who evacuated without them.
Having an emergency plan and training staff to implement it are essential
That’s why it’s critical that all nursing homes have an emergency plan to care for residents in emergency conditions and to get them to a safe location if necessary. That needs to involve notifying local authorities and first responders and being responsive to loved ones whether they live nearby or thousands of miles away.
Whether you’re looking for a nursing home for your loved one or want to be sure the one they’re living in is safe, you can and should get a copy of their emergency plan and ask about their procedures and training. This plan should apply not just to natural disasters and extreme weather events but to more localized emergencies – like a kitchen fire that gets out of hand and threatens the facility.
What if a nursing home isn’t prepared?
If you aren’t comfortable with their answers or their level of preparedness, it’s probably best not to place a loved one in that facility. If they’re already there, you can contact the appropriate nursing home ombudsman to see what they know about that facility’s emergency preparedness.
If your loved one has already suffered harm due to a lack of emergency preparedness or other negligence by their nursing home, it’s a good idea to have legal guidance to help you determine the best course of action.