Disaster Prep – Is Your Agency Ready?

Home care agencies have unique responsibilities to their clients during disasters, epidemics, and terrorist attack.

But they also have unique resources. The simplest way to prepare for a disaster is to speak to your clients about the matter and to encourage them to take precautions and make plans.  A great starting point is the new Disaster Preparedness: For Seniors By Seniorsbrochure from the American Red Cross.  This handsome, 13-page brochure covers all the basics — with special attention to seniors including: Building a disaster kit (including medications); Planning an escape route; Staying informed after a disaster takes place; and Knowing what resources are available; Best of all, the Massachusetts Dept. of Public Health is making copies available free of charge.  Just download the order form, send it in, and they’ll send you up to 500 copies.

Even more importantly, disaster preparedness is vitally important — literally — for home care agencies. That’s why the Alliance partnered with DPH to develop the the Home Health Care Emergency Preparedness Handbook. The Handbookpresents Alliance best practices for preparing for natural disasters, epidemics, and terrorism. Contents include: Standards of Care; Infection Control; Patient Tracking Controls; Emergency Communication Resources; Home Health Care Emergency Planning Resources; Emergency Planning Training Resources; Volunteer Opportunities The Handbook also contains extensive appendixes on: Hazard Vulnerability Analysis Biological Weapons Agents Emergency Policies & Procedures CMS Altered Standards of Care The Handbook comes in a three-ring binder and is available to Alliance Members for $25/copy, or $100 for five copies.

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