Providing Shelter to Nursing Home Evacuees in Disasters: Lessons from Hurricane Katrina |
The authors examined nursing home preparedness needs by studying the experiences of nursing homes that sheltered evacuees from Hurricane Katrina. Interviews were conducted with nursing home administrators that sheltered evacuees in four states. Findings: Nursing homes should develop and practice procedures to shelter and provide long-term access to mental health services following a disaster. Nursing homes should be integrated into community disaster planning and be classified in an emergency priority category similar to hospitals. |
Planning and Response |
CMS Survey and Certification Emergency Preparedness Initiative: Emergency Preparedness Checklist Revision |
This CMS recommended tool, originally developed in 2007 and updated in 2009, was revised in December 2013 and was accompanied by Survey & Certification Letter 14-12-ALL, issued February 28, 2014. This is a link to the Survey & Certification Letter and the Revised Checklist. |
Planning and Response |
Disaster Preparedness Program Resources - California Association of Health Facilities |
This is a link to the website of the California Association of Health Facilities Disaster Preparedness Program, established in September 2006, with the help of the California Department of Public Health Services (CDPH) and with funding through the Federal Hospital Preparedness Program (HPP). The CAHF-DPP website provides information and tools to assist long-term care facilities determine effective and efficient ways for disaster planning and integration into their Emergency Management Program, where appropriate. The site offers updated information and tools compliant with the CMS Emergency Preparedness Rule (implementation date Nov 15, 2017).
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Planning and Response |
Emergency Operations Program and Plan Manual - California Association of Health Facilities |
This Emergency Operations Program and Plan (EOP) Template for Skilled Nursing Facilities is provided by the California Association of Health Facilities (CAHF). It was initially developed in 2015 and was revised in 2017 with funding from the California Dept. of Public Health Emergency Operations Program (Grant #15-10756) to incorporate new federal emergency preparedness regulations for Medicare/Medicaid certified providers released in 2016. It is offered as a base template from which a skilled nursing facility (SNF) can build a comprehensive EOP, and incorporates various positive practices in addition to regulatory requirements. Other facility types such as Intermediate Care Facilities for Individuals with Intellectual Disabilities, may find this template useful with some additional customization to reflect their unique populations, operations, and regulatory differences. |
Planning and Response |
Emergency Preparedness Checklist for Nursing Homes, Assisted Living Facilities and Group Homes |
This tool was developed by the Montgomery County Advanced Practice Center for Public Health Emergency Preparedness and Response. The checklist is designed to help ensure that health care facilities are not only well prepared but also able to shelter-in-place and remain self-sufficient during a variety of emergencies. The author states that the checklist has proven to be a useful tool in emergency preparedness training, planning, and assessment; annual quality-of-care surveys; follow-up inquiries and consultation; and efforts to contact facility administrators during actual emergencies. Although licensing and quality standards vary by jurisdiction, public health professionals and local, state, and federal regulators can view the checklist as a template that is readily adaptable to their needs and uses. [Citation: Montgomery County, Maryland. Advanced Practice Center for Public Health Emergency Preparedness and Response, “Emergency Preparedness Checklist,” June 2005.] |
Planning and Response |
Emergency Preparedness Guide for Assisted Living Communities |
Developed in collaboration with the National Center for Assisted Living, this guide is based on FEMA's Comprehensive Preparedness Guide 101 (CPG 101). This resource supports assisted living facilities to build emergency operations plans that local emergency management offices will immediately recognize. The guide includes a template using the traditional FEMA functional emergency plan format and demonstrations on how to complete various sections. This resource is available to FHCA members, or to members of the American Health Care Association/NCAL. Key Words: Emergency Preparedness Guide, Assisted Living Communities, Assisted Living Facilities, CPG 101, Emergency Operations Plan Template |
Planning and Response |
Emergency Preparedness Planning for Nursing Homes and Residential Care Settings in Vermont |
This manual was developed for nursing homes, assisted living residences, residential care homes and therapeutic community care homes in Vermont. The manual is organized into three sections. Section I provides an introduction to basic emergency management concepts. Section II helps users take a “bird's eye view” of their facility, setting the context for developing an emergency preparedness plan tailored to a specific facility's needs. Section III contains five planning modules that focus on priority aspects of emergency preparedness, including establishing a chain of command, setting up redundant communications systems, planning for staffing shortages, planning to shelter in place and planning for evacuation. The manual includes worksheets and checklists to help identify gaps and strengthen plans. |
Planning and Response |
ESRD National Coordinating Center for Kidney Community Emergency Response |
This is a link to the Kidney Community Response page on the website of the End Stage Renal Disease (ESRD) National Coordinating Center. There are many valuable tools on this site for professionals as well as patients. |
Planning and Response |
Establishing And Refining Hurricane Response Systems For Long-Term Care Facilities |
This article published in the journal Health Affairs reviews the findings and outcomes of the 2006 Hurricane Summit, funded by the John A. Hartford Foundation and the Florida Health Care Association. Summit participants included representatives from five Gulf Coast states that sustained hurricane damage during 2005, along with representatives from Georgia, which was a receiving state for hurricane evacuees. Participants evaluated disaster preparedness, response, and recovery for long term care provider networks and identified gaps that impeded safe resident evacuation and disaster response. The article identifies specific areas warranting further attention, presented as lessons learned.
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Planning and Response |
Evacuation Plan Development Tool Kit - Colorado |
This website of the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment provides several downloadable tools for providers. Included is an Evacuation Decision Tree and a tool for rating residents’ evacuation capabilities. |
Planning and Response |
Evacuation Zones (Florida) |
This resource provides a link to the Florida Division of Emergency Management's web page on evacuation zones. During an emergency, your local emergency management program (EOC) should always be consulted regarding evacuation orders. If you are looking for evacuation zones in another state, use the search bar and search for the List of State Emergency Management Agencies. |
Planning and Response |
Facility to Facility Memorandum of Understanding: Outline of Key Elements |
This document provides an outline to guide nursing home and assisted living facility providers in establishing Memorandums of Understanding with other providers in the event of resident transfer during a local or widespread emergency. |
Planning and Response |
FEMA Mobile App |
This is a link to the FEMA app, available for Apple, Android, and Blackberry mobile devices. The app provides quick access to Weather Alerts; Preparation Tips; and Disaster Resources. |
Staying Connected |
FHCA Emergency Management Guide for Nursing Homes (2008) |
The EM Guide for Nursing Homes was developed in 2008 through a grant funded by the John A. Hartford Foundation to the Florida Health Care Association. Development of the Guide was done in partnership with the Florida Department of Health Bureau of Preparedness and Response. The 265-page guide includes five sections, including the basic emergency operations plan elements, sample appendices, explanation of hazard types, incident command, and training. |
Training and Exercise |
Findings of the National Long Term Care Evacuation Transportation Summit |
This is a report of the 2009 National Long Term Care Evacuation Transportation Summit, sponsored by the John A. Hartford Foundation and hosted by the Florida Health Care Association and the American Health Care Association. The Summit convened leaders from diverse industries to deliberate about how to ensure that nursing homes have access to appropriate and sufficient transportation resources during a disaster. Among the forty delegates were representatives from the federal and state governments, transportation industry, public health, emergency operations, and long-term care.
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Planning and Response |