What to do if a loved one is evacuated from a nursing home

“Your loved one’s regular staff may be at the relocation site, but they also might not, so it’s vital to have documentation that other health care providers can follow,” she says.  Ask for a

copy or, if that’s not feasible, have a health care provider read through the documents with you to ensure they are accurate.  4. MAKE SURE CARE IS CONTINUING AS BEST IT CAN During the

response stage of the disaster, Bell encourages families to focus on the basic needs of residents: “Ask: Are you in a safe place? Do you have food, water and shelter? And are your medical

needs being met?”  If your loved one requires a special diet, medications or medical equipment, Finck-Boyle recommends asking about these services because temporary shelters may not be

equipped for this. Responders may need to coordinate procuring these supplies or may need to transfer your loved one to an alternate location, so it’s best to flag such needs early, she

says.  Family caregivers can play a critical role in providing emotional and mental health support during disasters, while first responders and health care staff focus on addressing physical

safety. Experts suggest asking questions like: Are you okay? What happened? How do you feel? What do you need? How can I help you? How can I be there for you? “It’s really important,” says

Horney, “because we definitely see increases in things like post-traumatic stress syndrome and anxiety and depression following disasters and a dislocation like this.”  5. SHOULD I BRING MY

LOVED ONE HOME WITH ME? It depends on your loved one’s specific care needs and your capability to support those, experts say. “It's so situational,” says Smetanka, who advises

discussing such a move with the facility’s administration, the resident’s medical team and the resident themself to ensure all bases are being covered. Consider the accessibility of your

home; whether you have the skills, knowledge and strength to provide the right care; whether you'll need help; and whether such help is available.  “You always want your loved one to

stay in the safest, most comfortable place,” Bell says. “And if you feel like that's with you, then certainly, if it's safe to go get them, then [bring them home].”  Consider,

though, that “residents may have a lot of needs after a disaster – both pre-existing needs, as well as heightened needs that have been exacerbated by the disaster experience and the

evacuation,” Horney says.  Given the vulnerability of the long-term care population during a disaster, experts emphasize the importance of planning for them ahead of time. “We have a saying

in disaster management that you never want to be exchanging business cards in the middle of a disaster,” Bell says. Learn the facility’s emergency plans, ask questions and get ready for a

disaster on a blue-sky day, she says. “If you're prepared, it's going to go smoother.”