When a parent lives in a nursing home or assisted living community, emergency preparedness takes on a new level of importance. Here in Maryland, families may face risks ranging from hurricanes and severe coastal storms to flooding, winter weather, power outages, and extreme heat.
While senior care facilities are required to have emergency plans, it’s important for families to have a plan of their own. Knowing what to expect before a crisis occurs can help protect your loved one and provide peace of mind.
Understand Your Parent’s Facility Emergency Plan
Maryland nursing homes and assisted living communities maintain procedures for emergencies, but no plan is immune to the challenges of a large-scale disaster.
Consider asking the facility:
- When would residents be evacuated versus sheltered in place?
- Where would residents be relocated during an emergency?
- How would residents be transported and accounted for?
- How would family members be notified if phone or internet service is disrupted?
- Does the facility have a backup power source for medical equipment and essential services?
Whether your parent lives in Baltimore County, Carroll County, Anne Arundel County, or elsewhere in Maryland, understanding these procedures ahead of time can help you respond quickly if an emergency occurs.
Make Sure Legal Documents Are Up to Date
If your parent needs to be transferred to another facility, receive medical treatment, or access financial resources during an emergency, the right legal documents must already be in place.
Review and update:
- Financial Powers of Attorney
- Advance Medical Directives
- Long-Term Care Insurance
- Health Insurance and Medicare information
Keep copies in a secure but accessible location and make sure key family members know where to find them.
Build an Emergency Contact Plan
Create a centralized list of contacts, including:
- Facility administrators
- Physicians and specialists
- Long-term care insurance providers
- Attorneys and financial advisors
- Family members and caregivers
In a fast-moving emergency, having this information readily available can save valuable time.
Prepare for Unexpected Expenses
A temporary relocation can create financial challenges before insurance or benefits catch up.
Maryland families should review:
- Long-term care insurance coverage
- Medicare and Medicaid-related questions
- Emergency transportation costs
- Temporary housing or care expenses
- Access to emergency funds
Keeping financial records organized and documenting disaster-related expenses can make reimbursement and recovery much easier.
Know Your Rights and Responsibilities
If you are your parent’s agent under a Power of Attorney or Advance Healthcare Directive, make sure the facility has current copies of those documents and your updated contact information.
You should also understand how the facility will communicate with residents’ representatives during an emergency and what role you may play in healthcare or relocation decisions.
Peace of Mind Starts with Preparation
Emergencies are unpredictable, but preparation is not. For Maryland families, a little planning today can help prevent confusion and stress during a future crisis.
By understanding your parent’s facility plan, keeping legal documents current, and preparing for potential financial and healthcare decisions, you can help ensure your loved one remains safe, cared for, and protected when the unexpected happens.
If you’d like to review your family’s powers of attorney, advance directives, or long-term care planning documents, an experienced Maryland estate planning attorney can help ensure you’re prepared for whatever lies ahead.
