National and state provider associations and individual senior living operators are stepping up to help communities affected by Hurricanes Helene and Milton, which hit the Southeast United States within two weeks of each other.
Hurricane Helene made landfall on the Florida panhandle Sept. 26 as a Category 4 hurricane. By the next day, the storm had been downgraded to a tropical depression, but its heavy rain and wind caused damage across an 800-mile path.
Hurricane Milton made landfall Oct. 9, bringing winds and storm surge to parts of Tampa, St. Petersburg, Sarasota and Fort Myers in Florida, as well as tornadoes, as it moved across the state and out into the Atlantic Ocean.
More than 135 residents of Colonial Assisted Living in Tampa were transported via rafts, airboats and amphibious vehicles last week by the Hillsborough County Sheriff’s Office after flood waters inundated the region. Staff members told media outlets that the community was not in an evacuation zone, but heavy rains caused flooding in unexpected areas.
A Duke Energy spokesperson told the Tampa Bay Times that it prioritizes assisted living communities and nursing homes for power restoration but said that independent living communities are not a priority. The media outlet detailed how residents of two senior living apartment complexes took to Facebook for help and relied on local organizations and neighbors for help with food and water.
Feedback gathered
As part of ongoing efforts to improve relief support following the 2024 hurricanes, Argentum partnered with its state partners and the American Seniors Housing Association to gather feedback from those affected. The goal of the survey is to understand providers’ experiences and to assess the need for a federal relief package for both immediate and long-term needs.
Argentum indicated that it has received requests for assistance from several North Carolina assisted living communities in the Asheville and Hendersonville areas related to Hurricane Helene.
In letters sent Tuesday to Appropriations Committee leadership in the Senate and House of Representatives, Argentum President and CEO James Balda said the association is working with state partner associations in North Carolina, Florida, Georgia, Tennessee, Alabama and South Carolina to assess immediate and ongoing needs. He said a number of assisted living communities — as well as their staff — in those states have sustained losses that will not be covered by insurance.
Balda asked that any disaster relief legislation include assisted living. Specifically, he asked for coverage of:
- All uninsured losses, including flood and structural damage
- All uncompensated costs related to assisted living community forced to evacuate residents and staff
- Financial assistance for assisted living staff members to repair damage to their homes not covered by their personal insurance to avoid any further loss of staff in an “already tight healthcare workforce market;”
- Financial assistance to reimburse assisted living providers for increased staffing costs related to Hurricanes Helene and Milton.
Balda said the industry is still assessing losses and reviewing state reporting data from communities related to staffing costs.
“If these communities are not able to rebuild or repair their communities, many will be forced to close, resulting in potential placement of their residents in more restrictive — and more costly — nursing homes that will severely and negatively impact residents and, from a financial standpoint, state and federal taxpayers due to increases in Medicaid costs,” Balda wrote.
LeadingAge reported that shuttle buses from The Sharon at SouthPark and Southminster in Charlotte, NC, were filled with adult briefs, baby wipes, pallets of water and pet food and taken to senior living communities in need. Help from across North Carolina also arrived at communities in need via U-Hauls, community vans and staff cars to help ease the stress of communities continuing to face water, power and internet issues.
Westminster Communities of Florida evacuated its residents to neighboring communities, including Legacy Pointe in Orlando, Lutheran Haven Oviedo, Oak Hammock in Gainesville, Mease Life in Dunedin, Orland Lutheran Tower, Penney Retirement Community in Green Cove Springs, and The Ponce Nursing and Rehabilitation in St. Augustine.
The Department of Housing and Urban Development asked affordable housing providers to share potential resources by reporting vacant units to assist with survivors displaced as a result of a disaster event.
Numerous disaster relief efforts are underway to help communities, staff members and residents affected by the storms. Among them:
- The US Department of Health and Human Services declared Hurricanes Helene and Milton public health emergencies.
- The North Carolina Health Care Facilities Association, in partnership with FutureCare NC, organized a process for donations for employees of western North Carolina affected by Hurricane Helene.
- LeadingAge North Carolina set up a Disaster Recovery Fund through its foundation for disaster relief for member communities, residents and staff members affected by Hurricane Helene.
- The North Carolina Senior Living Association posted communication and information from the state relevant to assisted living providers.
- The Florida Health Care Association established a Hurricane Relief Fund through its Florida Health Care Education and Development Foundation to support affected employees. The association also has a web page devoted to Hurricane Milton resources.
- The Florida Senior Living Association has a resource site for providers in regard to Hurricane Milton.
- The Georgia Health Care Association / Georgia Center for Assisted Living set up a Disaster Relief Fund through its GHCA Education and Research Foundation to support employees affected by natural disasters. The deadline for applications is Nov. 1.
- The Tennessee Health Care Education Foundation of the Tennessee Health Care Association announced an effort to assist long-term care staff members who experienced loss, hardship and other severe challenges in the wake of Hurricane Helene. The Tennessee Hurricane Flood Relief Fund has a goal of raising $100,000 to help individuals and their families rebuild their lives.
- LeadingAge Southeast has a list of resources on the Hurricane and Emergency Preparedness page on its website.
- The LeadingAge Disaster Relief Fund is seeking donations to offset the costs that members need to return to normal operations.
- KARE is waiving all fees associated with staffing communities that requested that help, through Monday. Communities will pay the cost of labor for requested certified nursing assistants, certified medication aides, licensed practical nurses and registered nurses.
