Emergency Preparation Training at Assisted Living Is Normal, and a Good Idea

May 5, 2017 by ·
Assisted Living Fairhope AL: Emergency Preparation Training at Assisted Living Is Normal, and a Good Idea

Assisted Living Fairhope AL: Emergency Preparation Training at Assisted Living Is Normal, and a Good Idea

Several weeks ago Tricia went to visit her mother at an assisted living facility. She tries to get over there to pay a visit at least once a week, but lately things have been a bit chaotic. Tricia’s job was taking a tremendous amount of time and energy, so it had been a few weeks since she was last able to visit.

When she arrived there, she noticed all of the staff and residents were outside. She didn’t see any emergency vehicles, like fire trucks or police cruisers, but she grew extremely concerned. Some of the residents were in their nightgowns while others were fully dressed and seem to be prepared for outdoor weather.

Tricia’s mother lives in a coastal community in South Carolina. While spring time weather was relatively warm this day, and she didn’t have to worry about her mother getting cold, she still felt it was unsettling when she finally discovered that this was an emergency training session for not just the staff members, but the residents as well.

May 22nd through the 28th is Hurricane Preparedness Week and as hurricane season officially begins June 1st, there are plenty of reasons why some facilities may take part in emergency planning or training sessions.

It helps to train staff.

Staff need to be well trained at assisted living communities all across the country to deal with a variety of emergency situations. In the event of a severe weather emergency, when the staff are properly trained and have some expectations about what to do, it’s going to create a safer environment for all involved.

It helps residents understand what to do.

During a nonemergency training session, without the incredible pressure that a true emergency can place on people, both physically and emotionally, it can allow the residents to be better prepared for any type of potential emergency that could arise in the future.

For Tricia’s mother, her and the rest of the residents had been well advised regarding what was going to happen. No one was caught off guard and everyone was calm and the situation was completely under control.

It’s important to ask the administrators if questions arise.

When Tricia arrived and was upset at what she saw, she immediately sought out the supervising manager. Her concerns were quickly allayed when she realized this was a training exercise and that all residents, including her mother, were well aware of what was taking place.

When she talked to her mother and realized this was the truth, she began to understand the value in keeping everyone prepared, especially living in a hurricane prone zone.

In different parts of the country, different assisted living facilities may prepare for various types of emergencies, but the more prepared they are, the safer the residents and staff members can be in the event an emergency actually does arise.

If you or an aging loved one are considering Assisted Living near Fairhope, AL, contact Ashbury Manor Specialty Care and Assisted Living at 251-317-3017.

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About Cindy Johnson

Ashbury Manor’s Administrator since 2008, Cindy Johnson is a long-time expert in the assisted living field. Prior to her arrival at Ashbury Manor, Cindy managed acquisitions and crisis management for existing and new larger senior care project developments for eleven years. As regional manager for an Oregon-based assisted living management company, Cindy was directly responsible for operations for five 50-65 bed assisted living facilities. As manager during the transition to new ownership, Cindy reorganized internal operations and conducted leadership training for Executive Directors. As a result of her management and expertise, one of the company’s facilities (in Ocala, Florida) received a deficiency-free survey, resulting in the lifting of a moratorium on operation.

A nurse for 36 years, senior care has always been Cindy’s passion. Desiring to work more closely with residents, Cindy became a Category II Administrator in 2005. As Ashbury Manor’s Administrator, Cindy understands the complexities associated with dementia and cognitive impairment and she has fallen in love with seniors with dementia or cognitive impairment and their families.

Cindy is Treasurer of the local “Senior Coalition” chapter. She enjoys mentoring new candidates who want to become administrators.

As a 16-bed facility, with Cindy's training and experience, our residents and their families can be sure Ashbury Manor’s carefully selected staff provides the expertise of a larger facility while maintaining the individualized personal care of a small special needs home.
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