Emergency Preparedness

A nursing home, assisted living, or other long-term care facility should have a comprehensive emergency plan in place, so that residents can be protected and supported in times of crisis. A nursing home, by federal law, is required to have evacuation plans in the event of a natural or man-made disaster. The facility is required to “tailor its disaster plan to its geographic location and the types of residents it serves.”

Federal Requirements, Resources, and Reports

CMS

• Emergency Preparedness Requirements for Medicare and Medicaid Participating Providers and Suppliers - The rule was published on September 16, 2016 and was effective as of November 15, 2016. The regulations must be implemented by affected entities by November 15, 2017. The regulations require nursing facilities to be in compliance with all federal, state and local emergency preparedness requirements.
• CMS Emergency Preparedness Rule: Resources at Your Fingertips
• CMS Emergency Preparedness
• Emergency Preparedness for Every Emergency: CMS Resources

Emergency Planning Checklists

• People living in long-term care facilities, their families and ombudsmen
• People with medical needs living at home
• Survey and Certification Emergency Preparedness Initiative: S&C Emergency Preparedness Checklist Revision (February 2014)

Resources from Other Federal Agencies

• Emergency Preparedness and Response: Model Policies and Procedures for State Long-Term Ombudsman Programs
• OIG Report: Gaps Continue to Exist in Nursing Home Emergency Preparedness and Response During Disasters: 2007–2010
• FEMA Mobile App: Weather Alerts and Preparation Advice
• FEMA PSA: We Prepare Everyday
• Alerting the Whole Community: Removing Barriers to Alerting Accessibility (2013)

Additional Resources

• Emergency Preparedness Issue Page from the National Ombudsman Resource Center (NORC)
• CMS Emergency Preparedness Final Rule Crosswalk
• Tribal Nursing Home Best Practices for Emergency Preparedness (February 2018)
• Fact Sheet - Harvey, Irma, and Medicare: Information for Advocate in Texas and Florida (October 2017)
• Issue Brief - Why Many Nursing Facilities Are Not Ready Emergency Situations(September 2017)
• DisasterAssistance.gov
• U.S. DHHS: "Help is on the line."
• Journal of Gerontological Nursing: Surviving the Storm
• Yale NewHaven Health Resource Center