In the wake of Hurricanes Harvey, Irma, and now Maria, we have seen just what natural disasters are capable of. The subject of emergency preparedness is at the forefront of everyone’s minds, and we at Greystone attempt to be as ready as we can for any emergency. Since the bulk of our residents are senior citizens, our main concern in an emergency is their safety and well-being.

Our staff has established deep and lasting relationships with our residents. We have built a strong sense of trust, which results in everyone feeling safe and comfortable. During a high-stress situation, calm communication is vital in everyone remaining that way. There cannot be enough planning and communication; as we like to say, “Your Plan A needs a Plan B AND a Plan C.” We try to anticipate every possible outcome and are always ready to improvise should it not work out. We can’t know how a storm will behave or what the results will be; there are just so many variables. But we can learn from both our experiences and the experiences of others, and better prepare each hurricane season for a number of possible scenarios.

We don’t think about natural disasters while contemplating where our family members might be living for the remainder of their lives. But well before a family even places a relative in long term care, questions should be asked about emergency protocols. Put voice to any concerns about resources like backup generators, evacuation plans, what they’ve done in the past if they’ve lost power.

While it’s a challenge to prepare for every scenario, there are some guidelines we recommend to our residents to feel as secure as one can in an unimaginable situation:

• Have a plan, as well as a contingency plan, in place well before it needs to be implemented. This will minimize confusion during an evacuation. Our teams met early in the season to make sure everyone was on the same page across all of our properties.
• Keep all of your important documents (photo ID, social security card, birth certificate, insurance card, any other personal documents that can’t be replaced) in a plastic bag, and make sure you put that bag in a place you can easily access.
• Do the same with your medications and prescriptions, as those will be more difficult to replace after a disaster.
• Take only the most vital personal items you know you can’t live without, especially if you know you’ll be staying in a shelter during an evacuation. Don’t overburden yourself: If you don’t need it, leave it.

The most important thing to have during a crisis is peace of mind, and we do everything we can to give that to our residents. They just want to know they’ll have a home to return to once the crisis is resolved, and giving them that reassurance is our top priority.

Contact Stefanie.Resch@greystonehealth.com for more information about Greystone’s response to Hurricane Irma