Hurricane evacuations of assisted living residents raise risk of adverse outcomes
By
Kimberly Bonvissuto
May 16, 2024
A study of more than 25,000 assisted living residents in Florida found that evacuation was associated with increased odds of emergency department use and nursing home placement within 30 days of a hurricane.
Crisis communication plan key to preparing for the unpredictable
By
Kimberly Bonvissuto
Aug 04, 2023
Every scenario in senior living potentially could become a crisis situation. The key to surviving is a solid crisis communication plan, according to a communications expert.
Lessons from the pandemic can help ensure caregivers’ mental health and well-being
By
Kathleen Steele Gaivin
Jul 27, 2023
Healthcare organizations’ disaster preparedness plans must include “explicit plans for supporting mental health,” say the authors of a new piece in JAMA Psychiatry.
The threat of lithium battery fires is real!
By
Stan Szpytek
Jan 09, 2023
As power sources for electronic equipment, appliances and devices used in senior living communities and nursing homes become more sophisticated and battery technology advances, the threat of a lithium...
Senior living fire safety requires education, cooperation, good faith: expert
By
Kimberly Bonvissuto
Jan 09, 2023
A recent series of fires in senior living communities across the country is a stark reminder that protecting residents and staff members boils down to education, cooperation and good faith, according to...
Florida’s ‘deadliest storm’ challenges some providers; others step in to help
By
Kimberly Bonvissuto
Sep 30, 2022
Senior living providers in high-risk areas have coordinated resident evacuations and struggled with power outages as Hurricane Ian moved through Florida, whereas those in areas spared by the storm have...
Senior living providers prepare for Hurricane Ian’s fury
By
Kimberly Bonvissuto
Sep 28, 2022
As Hurricane Ian was being upgraded to a Category 3 major hurricane on Tuesday, long-term care communities and hospitals in areas at highest risk for storm surge were evacuating — or preparing to evacuate.
Wrongful death lawsuit filed against assisted living owner, former employees following fatal fire
By
Kimberly Bonvissuto
Sep 12, 2022
The mother of a volunteer firefighter killed during a March 2021 fire at a New York assisted living community has filed a wrongful death lawsuit against the facility owners, former employees, city building...
Mutual aid funding could save lives
By
Jeannee Parker Martin
Jun 27, 2022
A mutual aid program can protect older adults, mitigating risk by preparing for disasters and establishing local resiliency and coordinating strategies between long-term care facilities for equipment,...
‘Nothing short of a miracle’ — Senior living execs recount resident evacuations during Colorado...
By
Kimberly Bonvissuto
Jan 13, 2022
If the Marshall Fire in Colorado taught Cindy Longfellow of Juniper Communities anything, it was to be prepared for everything.