How do Florida assisted living facilities prep for hurricane season? Here's what to know

Melissa Pérez-Carrillo, Sarasota Herald-Tribune
·2 min read

Hurricane season is upon us. Are your elderly loved ones ready for the storm season?

An estimated 71,000 Florida residents live in an assisted living facility, according to the Florida Healthcare Association, and most of the Hurricane Ian deaths were elderly Floridians with 140 seniors accounting for two-thirds of all storm-related deaths. Here are some things to consider when looking to keep a loved one safe while making sure they receive quality care.

How are assisted living facilities required to prepare for hurricane season?

Assisted living facilities and nursing homes are required to have elaborate disaster plans in place to prepare for the hurricane season. Plans vary from Florida counties and facilities.

According to Florida law, at minimum, facilities are required to offer emergency evacuation transportation, adequate sheltering, emergency equipment, post disaster food and water and post disaster transportation. Each county’s local emergency management agency reviews and approves the disaster plan.

Do assisted living facilities evacuate during hurricanes?

Assisted living facilities are required to heed evacuation orders from local authorities. Depending on the facility, residents may be evacuated to a local shelter or a hotel if the facility is a member of the Florida Assisted Living Association.

More on hurricanes: National Hurricane Center watching 4 tropical waves, including 2 in Caribbean

How to help older adults prepare for the storm?

Create a communication plan. It can be difficult to connect following power outages during a storm. Helping your loved one create a list for emergency contact information of family or friends can help ease anxiety in not knowing how they’re doing. Make sure to include meetup locations after the storm and important medical information.

Make a medical plan. Many elderly adults need hearing aids, oxygen machines and wheelcharis – many of which require electricity to operate. Make sure that medical devices have battery backups and are fully charged.

Heed evacuation warnings. Make sure to follow evacuation instructions from local officials and keep in touch with the facility's management for their plan of evacuation.

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How to create an emergency kit?

Before packing, make a list of the essentials needed, specified to the person's needs. Essentials vary from person to person, but most kits should have:

  • First-aid supplies

  • Non-perishable food

  • Bottled water

  • Medication

  • Clothes

  • Keys

  • Copies of important documents

  • Batteries

  • Flashlights

This article originally appeared on Sarasota Herald-Tribune: Florida assisted living facilities must prepare for hurricanes