Emergency preparedness used to have its time and place. People might have prepped before Y2K. Homeowners along the Florida coastline knew to get ready before the start of each hurricane season. Here in California, we used to brace ourselves during the wildfire season each summer.
But disasters seem to strike around the clock now. California has seen plenty of winter wildfires. Other types of disasters are getting more common, too. We’ve even seen some tornados across the state.
In short, emergency preparedness is no longer a seasonal to-do. And if you run a Residential Care Facility for the Elderly, year-round readiness gets extra important.
For starters, a plan is legally required
The California Code of Regulations says that all RCFEs need to have a written emergency disaster plan. Per Title 22, Section 87212, the plan has to be readily available and may even be subject to review from state authorities.
Your emergency plan needs to lay out:
- Who has authority during an emergency and what role staff will play
- Who will contact local agencies (e.g., fire department, police)
- Who will contact any resident’s hospice agency if that resident has one
- An evacuation plan, including how people will get out and where they should assemble once they do
- Transportation plans in the event of an evacuation
- The designation of relocation sites where you plan to house residents if they can’t go back to your RCFE right away, and supervision to get them relocated safely
You shouldn’t hurriedly jot this down just to tick this regulatory box. Your RCFE’s emergency preparedness plan can be a big help in reducing your liability exposure.
How emergency preparedness reduces liability
Per your contracts with your residents and their families, you have a level of responsibility for every one of your residents. In the event of an emergency, that responsibility doesn’t just stop. If something happens that negatively affects one of them, maybe they get left behind or miss a dose of important medication, you could be held liable.
Fortunately, an emergency plan can help to reduce the likelihood of those kinds of incidents. As you develop it, don’t make it a perfunctory exercise. Instead, think through each of your individual residents. Do they need mobility assistance? Do they have a pet that you’ll need to evacuate with them? Do they have family you should notify as to their whereabouts?
The more thorough your emergency preparedness plan, the more it helps to lower resident risks. And that lowers risk for your facility, which can have an additional benefit. If your insurance company can see that you have a clear plan of action, it could help you get a lower premium on your liability insurance coverage.
Here at InsureMyRCFE, we’re in the risk mitigation game. Our goal is to help RCFE owners and managers make strategic decisions to keep their residents and facilities safe, and to have a backup plan when things go awry. To consult with us on your emergency preparedness plan or using it to potentially lower your insurance premiums, contact us at (805) 413-5668 today.
