Establishing and refining hurricane response systems for long-term care facilities

Area of Science:

• Public Health
• Emergency Management
• Gerontology

Background:

• In 2005, hurricanes caused significant damage to long-term care facilities in Gulf Coast states.
• Evacuation and disaster response for vulnerable populations in long-term care settings present unique challenges.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate disaster preparedness, response, and recovery for long-term care (LTC) provider networks.
• To identify critical gaps in emergency response systems for LTC facilities.

Main Methods:

• A "Hurricane Summit" was convened in February 2006, funded by the John A. Hartford Foundation and sponsored by the Florida Health Care Association.
• Participants included representatives from five hurricane-affected Gulf Coast states and Georgia, a state receiving evacuees.
• The summit focused on evaluating existing disaster plans and identifying impediments to safe resident evacuation and response.

Main Results:

• Gaps were identified in disaster preparedness, response, and recovery for long-term care provider networks.
• Emergency response systems require improved coordination between LTC providers and state/federal emergency operations centers.
• Key issues were highlighted that impede safe resident evacuation during disasters.

Conclusions:

• Five key areas for improvement were identified as lessons learned from the 2005 hurricane season.
• Further attention and grant-making are recommended to address identified gaps in LTC disaster resilience.
• Enhanced coordination and planning are essential for protecting residents of long-term care facilities during emergencies.