University of Massachusetts

Are Massachusetts nursing home administrators prepared for a major disaster? A review of the existing nursing home regulation suggested that nursing home administrators were prepared for emergencies like snowstorms, but were most likely not ready to respond to a major disaster such as one caused by bio-terrorism. The events on September 11, 2001, and the devastating 2004 and 2005 hurricane seasons revealed that human-made and natural disasters adversely affect the safety and well-being of nursing home residents. While the public sector has begun to address issues surrounding security and emergency preparedness, it has not focused closely on the ability of nursing home administrators to respond to a disaster. Additionally, the limited amount of research on nursing home emergency preparedness illustrates that little attention has been placed on evaluating the effectiveness of emergency preparedness plans for catastrophic disasters. The goal of this study was twofold: to examine the current status and to evaluate the potential efficacy of Massachusetts nursing homes’ disaster plans. Data were collected through a survey of all Massachusetts nursing home administrators; case studies, including interviews with facility staff members from four facilities and experts from emergency agencies; and a review of facility disaster plans. In addition, 30 state nursing home disaster regulations were reviewed to provide a context in which nursing homes are currently prepared.

Evidence shows that the Massachusetts nursing home industry is not adequately prepared for a major disaster and that steps could be taken to enhance existing plans. Training and communication were two key areas identified as needing improvement. For example, while administrators conduct some emergency training, they need to increase education to improve staff knowledge of disaster plans. Second, disaster communication within and outside of the organization was often deficient or non-existent. The research suggests that state regulations should be updated to include additional well-defined minimum requirements. Findings from the study can be used to enhance nursing home preparedness for future disasters; increase awareness of the importance of nursing home disaster preparedness among providers, stakeholders, and policymakers; identify strengths and weaknesses in existing plans; and most importantly, improve safety and care of residents.