Manhattan Borough Wide InterAgency Council on Aging

FRIA Calls on Government and Nursing Homes to Immediately Review Emergency Plans for Seniors and to Include Caregivers and Residents in Planning

Information Contact: Amy Paul (212) 732-5667

New York, NY-September 28, 2005. FRIA calls on state and local government officials to immediately institute an independent review of their respective emergency plans for all seniors and, most especially, for nursing home residents. The review should allow input from caregivers and competent nursing home residents to ensure that the plans meet the needs of these communities. FRIA also urges that nursing homes communicate with family caregivers about existing emergency plans, to alert them to ways they can be of assistance in an emergency, and to disclose in advance destination points for evacuation and reunion.

In the wake of recent emergency planning failures that led to the death and injury of over 40 elderly individuals, it is imperative for New York to not repeat the same mistakes. “We can no longer rely on the assumption that our officials will take care of our elderly loved ones. We need more than verbal reassurance; we need citizen oversight to monitor that nursing homes and government officials are doing their utmost to protect these vulnerable seniors,” said FRIA Executive Director Amy Paul. “While no one can plan for every contingency, evacuation of a nursing home is a foreseeable response to a multitude of possible events, not just hurricanes or terrorist attacks. Post-9/11, we have a right to demand that preparedness be far more advanced than what we witnessed,” she added.

In Hurricane Katrina, many residents’ lives were saved because their caregivers called the home and asked to move them on their own. Other caregivers would have come, but trusted that an evacuation plan would be implemented. In fact, the nursing home never communicated with these other caregivers.

New York law must be changed to require that emergency plans be disclosed to caregivers in detail upon admission and at least once each year thereafter, except only to the extent that security considerations require secrecy for the protection of the residents. Caregivers, who have the greatest interest in ensuring that the plans are workable and effective, could then provide suggestions for improvement of the plan. At the least, the caregivers would be informed as to whether there was a need for them to pick up their loved ones in an emergency and to know where to reach them afterwards if evacuated by the home.

Amy Paul added, “We call upon all government officials and citizens to think hard about what they would want for their own loved ones, and for themselves, in older age. We urge our communities, both in New York and nationally, to take immediate steps to develop thoughtful and comprehensive contingency plans for evacuation and other emergency conditions that will provide loving protection for the elderly and others in hospitals and long term care settings.”

FRIA expresses its deep sadness about the tragedy that befell the victims of Hurricane Katrina and extends its profound sympathy to all those who suffered from this heartbreaking disaster. Unfortunately, it would appear that the residents of St. Rita's Nursing Home were not part of any priority evacuation or emergency plan despite their vulnerability and older age. FRIA is an independent, non-profit organization dedicated to promoting the dignity and independence of seniors in long term care settings, with a special focus on nursing home residents, and ensuring their prompt, high quality and compassionate care. We assist over 1,000 New Yorkers each year. FRIA has been a pioneer for nursing home reform since its inception and actively advocates for legislative and policy changes that benefit New Yorkers. FRIA’s services include free bilingual telephone Helpline for information on all aspects of long term care, and one-on-one assistance when problems arise regarding the quality of care provided or when resident or caregiver rights are violated.