Are you prepared? Are you sitting at your desk in your beautiful senior living community reading about a natural disaster that just occurred and saying, “There by the grace of God go I”? Let me nudge you a little, get out of your chair and get moving, because the next disaster might be yours to handle. Emergency preparedness in senior living communities isn’t optional anymore; it’s urgent.
Did you know several states already require it by law? Texas, Florida, Virginia, and Louisiana have passed legislation mandating emergency preparedness in senior living communities, and California is working on backup power regulations for assisted living settings. When you see that level of action across the country, it’s a wake-up call.
And it’s not just lawmakers taking notice. The Quality in Assisted Living Collaborative—a coalition including the American Senior Housing Association, Argentum, LeadingAge, the National Center for Assisted Living, and the National Association for Regulatory Administration has released a set of preparedness guidelines for assisted living and is now asking for industry feedback. If you haven’t reviewed it yet, it’s worth your time.
With wildfires, floods, and hurricanes increasing in frequency and severity, this is no time to play catch-up. Just because your community isn’t regulated doesn’t mean you’re exempt from responsibility. In fact, as McKnight’s Senior Living reported, few independent living communities have formal disaster plans in place, yet they are just as vulnerable when the unthinkable happens.
Talk to your owners, your leadership, families, staff—anyone who will listen. Host a town hall or record a quick video on your phone explaining why preparedness matters and post it on your homepage. Show your residents and their families that you’re not waiting to be told what to do, you’re already doing it.
In the end, emergency preparedness in senior living communities is not just a policy, it’s a culture of care. Take the next step, not because it’s required, but because it’s right.
Stay well and stay informed!
