Those planning to relocate into 55+ retirement communities in Clinton, MS will be pleased to know that these associations include multiple preparedness plans for emergencies, which are highlighted below.
How These Plans Work
Emergency planning for retirement communities can be a very challenging task. This is because many of the residents are mobility challenged, suffer from illness or are disabled outright. Furthermore, during an emergency those over the age of 65 with dementia might not follow instructions correctly and because the resident to team member ratio can be as high as 12:1, it can be difficult to protect or evacuate everyone during an emergency. This is why quality retirement associations have taken the following measures:
Drills, Exercises and Personnel Training
Community managers should draft a contingency plan which highlights the threats most likely to occur in their area and come up with ways to protect residents. This can be accomplished through drills, the training of personnel and exercises which are designed to minimize harm.
Adherence to Federal Regulations
Every retirement community must adhere to various federal regulations. One of the most important is OSHA 29 CFR 1910, which requires communities to have a plan for emergency action, methods of preventing fire and compliance with state building codes.
Lockdown and Quarantine Procedures during Pandemics
The spread of the COVID-19 virus around the world has reinforced the importance of being prepared for pandemics. This is especially important for retirement communities since their members are advanced in age and often have immune systems which are weaker than younger people, making them highly susceptible.
Community team members must be taught specific lockdown procedures which involve wearing the right gear, separating residents and helping those who are infected. Additionally, retirement communities should have storable food, water and medical supplies in case residents have to shelter in place for extended periods of time.
Hire an Emergency Planning Team
Taking the steps necessary to adequately prepare for an emergency can be very challenging. One reason is because there are so many adverse scenarios that can occur. Aside from fire, pandemics or hurricanes which are common in Mississippi, other threats include:
- Failing power grid
- Release of hazardous materials
- Wildfire
- Transportation accidents
- Communications shutdown
- Civil unrest
- Water or food born contamination
If any of the above events occur and adversely affect retirement community residents, the consequences could be devastating. Your organization may be held liable by the families of the victims which could lead to multimillion dollar negligence lawsuits. It isn’t enough for a retirement community to provide a pleasant environment for its residents; it must also have multiple contingency plans in place to deal with the above emergencies should they occur.
Few retirement associations have the resources or expertise needed to develop adequate emergency planning themselves. But by hiring a qualified outside team which specializes in crisis planning, retirement communities can develop a course of action which is adaptable and highly effective. These emergency planners work with organizations of all sizes, including Fortune 500 companies and universities, and they understand the emotional and technical challenges that you’ll face in protecting your residents.
