1. Managing Disaster in Long Term Care: Reality Checking Your Plan
WHCA Winter Conference Stuart Brown
Vicki McNealley
Village Concepts
Managing Disaster in Long Term Care: Reality Checking Your Plan

2. Learning Objectives
Review a recent disaster: what went right, and what we learned
Realize areas of your disaster plan that are weak, vague, or limited
Create a list to discuss with local emergency officials

3. December 26, 2017
Stuart can tell the story here.

8. What Went Well Emergency personnel summoned quickly
All residents were safely evacuated
No injuries, no hospitalizations
Associated AL community nearby transported residents to another facility
Media engagement
All residents eventually placed
Community Support
Neighbors
Other assisted livings

9. What We Learned Facility transportation not always available
Disaster plan unavailable
Pertinent contacts, telephone numbers
No one could hear announcements
Gathering location, holdover area essential
Disaster plan disjointed
Local officials needed more keys
Medications not available

10. Relocation, Relocation, Relocation
Holdover for immediate need evaluation, planning
Bracelets
Resident list, where they went
Appropriate level of care for longer placement
Renter’s insurance
Relocation assistance
Board (hotel)
Storage of personal items
Everyone at this point needs an arm band with the facility’s name and phone number on it. That way we can track the residents and where they go.

11. Changes We’ve Made Disaster plan revisited, revised
Training…and more training
Gathering space identified
Mutual agreement updated
Contact names/telephone numbers
Onsite
With managers
On bus
Walkie talkies
Disaster plan specific to geographic location and population served, as well as building layout. The disaster plan is prioritized based on likely disasters first, and tabbed for ease of use
Training is upon hire and every September for ALL staff.
Gathering space – safe – outside near the building.
Transfer agreement is now holdover, not long-term. Everyone needs something a bit different for long term – folks may go home with family, go to a SNF, another ALF, or to an IL depending on their needs.

12. Changes We’ve Made (continued)
Night lights/flashlights
Emergency items listed, prepared
Electronic health records, eMARs
No packing up everyone’s charts!
LTC pharmacy partner
Bus driver, keys to bus
Memory care considerations
Emergency items needed are listed in the disaster plan, and stored in a rollable garbage can with a lid for easy transport. Items include
Wipes, incontinence products
Gloves
Hand sanitizer
Blankets
Bracelets
Bullhorn
Paper/pen/clipboard/tape
Face sheets
Emergency contact numbers
Paper towels
First aid kit
Battery operated radio
Gallon-size Ziploc bags
Memory care considerations – guiding/leading (herding) to exits, outdoor gathering area, guiding/leading (herding) to bus as holdover location, ensuring separate emergency items for them since they are holding over in another location.

13. EMS Officials Discuss the plan How many master keys?
Unique population, building features
Unique disasters for your building (ie flooding, tsunami, forest fire)
Evacuation map
Exterior gathering location
Holdover location
How many master keys?
Current resident list/rooms
Evacuation vs. stay in place
Early-identified spokespeople
Building & EMS

14. Questions, Final Thoughts