From floods to fires, accidents happen everywhere, including retirement homes, writes Forbes contributor Jacob Edward. For family members and adult children of those who live in retirement communities, Edward outlines some safety considerations to ensure there are adequate emergency plans and safety measures in place to protect those residents.
Citing recent assisted living community floods and fires, the Forbes article points out that assisted living, skilled nursing and independent living communities must adhere to government safety standards. However, Edwards writes, many states do not have strict regulations when it comes to emergency preparedness.
The article encourages those whose family members are researching retirement communities to ask questions regarding those plans, including conversations with management and those who run the facilities.
“Stop by the management office to get details about the facility’s emergency plans. Find out how new staff are trained about the plan and how often the employees are updated,” Edwards recommends. “… Find out how much extra food would be on hand. There should be a minimum of three days worth, according to federal emergency recommendations,” he says.
Family and residents should also seek information on insurance should a theft occur, as well as simply taking stock of the residents’ personal belongings and where they are kept.
“You may find this kind of security a hassle when you go to see your mom and dad, but the peace of mind that you and they will have is well worth any annoyance,” Edwards says.
Written by Elizabeth Ecker
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