Inflamed Authors' Presentation

Paul Gullixon and Anne Belden gave us plenty to think about regarding the Tubbs fire and Assisted Living facilities. Not all facilities are equal, and Anne gave us a list of questions that should be asked regarding emergencies should we need to place a loved one (or ourselves) in any facility. We have provided the questions for you:

Emergency Plan/Evacuation Plan and Training

● Does the retirement complex have an emergency plan?

● Does it contain an evacuation plan? (see below)

● Where is the plan kept, and do all employees have access?

● How are employees trained regarding the plan(s)?

● How and when are night shift employees trained?

● How frequent is that training?

● Do you conduct fire drills that involve the residents?

● What is the training protocol regarding emergency plans and evacuation when

onboarding new employees?

● When is the emergency management plan triggered (before, during or after

hurricane/disaster)?

● If you ask for a copy of the emergency/evacuation plan will they give you one?

Emergency Supplies

● Does your emergency plan contain water and food storage for at least three days?

● Is that food and water stored in-house or contracted?

● How many fire extinguishers are on site?

● Where are emergency supplies (flashlights/batteries) kept?

● How are employees trained to find and use emergency supplies?

● Do you have emergency generators on-site?

● Do you have a contract with a company to provide generators?

○ Do they provide 24/7 service?

Evacuation Plan

● In case of an emergency or disaster, who decides when to evacuate the building?

● Do you have residents in wheelchairs on second or higher floors? (If so, how many?)

How do you get them downstairs in case of a power outage?

● How do you help people in walkers descend stairs in an emergency?

● Do you have backup generators that can power an elevator?

● Do you have stair chairs?

● Are your employees trained in doing a two-person lift? How are they trained? How often

do they practice this maneuver?

● How and when will family members be notified in case of an evacuation?

Transportation

● In case of evacuation, what is your transportation plan?

● Do you have vehicles on site to transport residents or do you contract with an outside

transportation company to provide buses?

○ If in-house, call all employees drive the shuttle buses?

○ If by contract, how long does it take for buses to get here?

● If some residents can drive themselves, what is your protocol for that?

● Is there a designated meeting point?

● Where will my parent/loved one be relocated to?

When and how will I be notified?

Staffing

● Do the Executive Directors and managers have a background in senior care - or is it

mostly in construction and/or business management?

● Is there a licensed nurse on staff? How many hours per day/week?

● Is there a med tech on staff 24/7?

● What is the ratio of caregivers to residents on staff?

● What are the minimum credentials they must have to get a job here?

● How many caregivers have been working here for more than one year?

● Do they all have credentials?

● How many caregivers are on staff at night on average?

● Is there a manager on staff at night? How many nights per week?

● Is the staff awake at night?

● How are they trained for emergencies?

● What is the staff to resident ratio during the day? At night?

● How long have key managers been working at the facility? How many are new this year?

● How long has the administrator been here?

● How long has current owner been operating the facility?

● Suggestion: Visit more than once, talk to residents and staff. Ask staff members how

long they have been working there.