(Editor’s Note: Today, we welcome Jo to our blogging family. Jo is a widower, single parent to two teenagers and caregiver for both his mother and father both of whom are in their 80’s and have dementia. You can read more about Jo, as well as all the bloggers, here.)

When assessing a facility for my parents I reviewed many things. Among them: quality, training and quantity of staff; state inspections; reputation; interviews with residents and other caregivers; general cleanliness. I gave the places the old eyeball test, and of course the all important smell test.

I did this all this past Spring before placing my mom and dad. Yesterday I realized what I had overlooked: Hurricane Weather Plan.

As Hurricane Earl barreled closer and closer and I reviewed plans and supplies for my family and I, it hit me. What if my parent’s facility lost power or they had to evacuate? What was their plan? Did they even have one?

In a mix of concern and urgency I spent some time at the their facility talking with staff and management about their ability to withstand a storm, conditions under-which they would evacuate, how an evacuation would be executed and what notification would be made in the event that happened. The structure itself is pretty sound and to date they’ve never had to evacuate. In fact it is more common for family caregivers to evacuate to the facility and to stay with their caree on-site because it is safer than staying home. The facility is also on the highest priority by the local power company in the event of power outage for restoration of power and there is a backup generator system. A destructive weather plan is submitted to the state every Spring prior to hurricane season. They were better prepared than I.

Back at home I’ve stocked up on critical staples, hit the ATM and gassed up the cars. This storm didn’t appear to be a major concern. A Cat 3 hurricane doesn’t get folks here very excited and this one will not be a direct hit. However, it will be close enough, large enough and strong enough (now it’s a Cat 4 again) to be watched closely. I’m still mentally running through “what if” drills for me, two teenagers and a dog, but now I’m including my mom and dad.

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