Assisted Living Facilities Insurance and Disaster Preparedness

When a disaster of the magnitude of "Superstorm Sandy" strikes, nursing homes and assisted living facilities need to have insurance as well as a plan in place for those residents who often require more assistance because of their age and physical disposition. These facilities should have some type of emergency preparedness checklist in order to assist residents and get them to a safe place if the situation requires such action.

In the event of a disaster, fire, emergency or any other condition that may jeopardize the health, safety and welfare of residents the facility shall take appropriate action to protect residents and to remedy the conditions as soon as possible. This checklist is designed to ensure that healthcare facilities are well prepared and also able to shelter in place, and remain self-sufficient during a variety of emergencies.

Emergency preparedness training, planning, and assessment

1. There should be documentation of contact with the local emergency coordinator to determine local disaster risks and community-wide plans to address different disasters and emergency situations. Conduct an analysis of the facility's potential hazards, including:

• Severe weather
• Fire
• Loss of utilities
• Flooding
• Work place violence or terrorism
• Severe injuries, or
• Other emergencies that would disrupt the normal course of service delivery

Also required would be written emergency management policies outlining specific responsibilities for provision of:

• Administrative direction and management of response activities
• Coordination of logistics during the emergency
• Communications
• Life safety of residents, staff, volunteers, and visitors
• Property protection
• Continued provision of services to residents
• Community resource accessibility, and
• Recovery and restoration

Staff and volunteers shall be knowledgeable in, and prepared to implement, the emergency preparedness plan in the event of an emergency.Emergency procedures shall address:

• Alerting emergency personnel and facility staff
• Warning and notification of residents, including sounding of alarms when appropriate
• Providing emergency access to secure areas and opening locked doors
• Conducting evacuations or sheltering in place, as appropriate, and accounting for all residents
• Locating and shutting off utilities when necessary
• Operating the emergency generator, and if available on-site, testing it periodically
• Communicating with staff and community emergency responders during the emergency, and
• Conducting relocations to emergency shelters or alternative sites when necessary and accounting for all residents

The facility shall review the emergency preparedness plan annually or more often as needed and make necessary revisions. Such revisions shall be communicated to staff, residents, and volunteers and incorporated into the orientation and quarterly review. There should also be an annual review of the assisted living facilities insurance, which may need to be updated to include any recent changes or additions to the facility.

Robert C. Morrison is an agent from KB Underwriters which is an Insurance agency whom focuses on the insurance solutions required to protect senior living facilities.

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