Emergency Protocols in Senior Housing

By Janelle Meyers, CSA, LALD

People who live in their own homes have a plan in the event of an emergency. What happens if there is an emergency, and you live in senior housing? This is a question people should have an answer to before or upon moving into a senior living community.  In Minnesota, senior housing and particularly those communities that offer care like assisted living must have a plan.

Effective August 1, 2021, the Minnesota Department of Health requires assisted living facilities to comply with federal emergency preparedness regulations for long-term care facilities.

As an executive director working in Saint Paul, I had a written plan, training for staff, and communication for everyone living in the community as well. In this article, I am sharing my experience. Every community will be a little different and may provide other ways of dealing with emergencies.

Inclement Weather

People know that the weather can be unpredictable at times.  From sub-zero temperatures in the winter, hot humid summers, and stormy springs the weather can change on a dime.  If you have lived in Minnesota for a full year, you know that at some point you will experience extreme weather conditions.

 Storms

• Thunderstorms
• Tornadoes
• Winter weather

When severe weather is on the horizon, senior housing communities have a protocol they follow.  A watch means that conditions are ripe for a storm. The staff and residents can stay “sky aware”.  Listen for the weather radios or television for changing conditions.  Some communities will go door to door and alert the residents. The staff may ask people to close window coverings.  They will continue to monitor the situation.  And if a watch turns to a warning, staff will alert residents and ask them to move away from windows into an interior part of the building or apartment.

Most communities will have interior rooms on a ground level that are safe shelter areas in a storm.  This may be a hallway or an interior room without windows.  When a resident is in their apartment, the bathroom is typically the room without a window and may be their designated internal room.

Winter weather storms can bring their own challenges.  When a blizzard or other winter weather is issued, community outings may be cancelled.  This is because driving conditions are often dangerous. Staff will not want to risk having an accident with a bus full of people.  People should follow the advice of weather professionals and delay unnecessary travel in a winter storm.

Loss of Power

It may be surprising to learn that not every senior living has a backup generator for power.  When the lights go out, it is dark. Having a working flashlight is advisable.  Keep several in handy spaces like your nightstand or a kitchen drawer.  Be sure to change the batteries twice a year so you know it will always work when needed.  Hallways are typically equipped with emergency lighting and exit signs will usually illuminate too.

For senior housing that does have backup power, it is usually limited to essential building functions.  This may include minimal lighting, elevators and some outlets that are marked in a way that staff or residents can identify them.  It is common that outlets powered by a generator have a red cover.  For people in assisted living that use medical equipment powered by electricity it’s good to know what type of backup power there is before moving.

In 2005, I was leading an assisted living community in Brooklyn Park.  A storm came in the middle of the night.  The power went out and there was not a backup generator.  The staff went from apartment to apartment though the night checking on the residents.  They took extra steps to ensure the safety of each person. In the morning, I could see that twelve large trees had been uprooted.  Fifteen hours later, the power was on. Between the storm and the returning the community staff made accommodation to care for residents, make meals and keep people informed.  At the end of the day, everyone was safe and happy to have life return to normal.

Fire Drills

In senior living communities, regular fire drills and alarm testing happen.  When a fire alarm is active, you will hear aloud siren.  This will not stop until the system is reset. This happens after the fire department determines it is safe to turn off the alarm.   In each community that I worked in, the people living there were asked to stay in the apartment when the fire alarms were activated. This was unless the fire was in their apartment.  Apartment doors are fire safe for a certain amount of time.  In the event of an evacuation, the fire department along with other first responders would direct and assist on-site staff.  Senior living apartments usually have a sprinkler system.  They will dispense water and extinguish a fire.

Evacuation

Some emergencies like a fire or damage to the property require people to evacuate senior housing. In this situation, emergency personnel report to assist.  They will give directions to the staff and help anyone in need of assistance.  And people who can evacuate on their own will follow the directions of the emergency personnel.

To this end, assisted living communities have shelter agreements with places they can bring residents in an evacuation.  The shelter is a temporary space until people return to the assisted living or other arrangements are made.

Have a Plan

While you never want to be in a dangerous situation it can happen.  Preparing and knowing what to do will make it less stressful.  There are many other types of emergency situations.  Rest assured that senior living has you covered and there is a plan. Investigate for yourself.  Here are some tips to ensure that you will be ready:

• Ask for the written procedure
• Participate in the drills
• Know where the nearest exits are from your apartment
• Have a working flashlight
• Keep an emergency kit in your car

Knowing what to do and practicing will provide you with the best chance of safety in an emergency.  Do you still have questions? Talk with the executive director.  They can explain the specifics of the community in which you live or may want to move. We can help you to determine if a community is right for you.  Learn more about by visiting the website at www.choiceconnectionsmn.com