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The study examined Florida assisted living facility staff perspectives of disaster preparedness, response, and recovery after the 2004 and 2005 hurricanes. A descriptive study using qualitative and quantitative approaches. One hundred seventy Florida assisted living facility staff who worked in areas under hurricane threat and provided care to residents during a hurricane. A questionnaire that was mailed or administered to staff attending a regional planning conference with quantitative and qualitative items. Of the 143 facilities that were affected by a hurricane, 77 % reported that they sheltered residents in place, while 23 % indicated that they evacuated for one or more of the hurricanes. Almost one-third of facilities lost telephone service and almost half lost electrical power during one or more of the hurricanes. Key topics noted by both evacuating facilities and those that sheltered in place were 1) decision-making, 2) planning, support, and supplies, 3) communication, and 4) electricity. Unique to assisted living facilities is the role of residents' family in assuming responsibility for evacuation and shelter during hurricanes. Facility staff at both evacuating and sheltering facilities indicated that the decision to evacuate or to shelter in place was difficult and the electrical power was critical to resident well-being. Assisted living facilities should develop disaster preparedness plans in conjunction with local and state emergency offices. Adequate disaster preparedness has implications for residents' safety as well as assisted living facility staff during disasters., Author(s): Lisa M. Brown [sup.1] , Janelle J. Christensen [sup.2] , Anna Ialynytchev [sup.3] , Kali S. Thomas [sup.4] , Kathryn A. Frahm [sup.5] , Kathryn Hyer [sup.5] Author Affiliations: [...]

This study examined disaster preparedness and decision-making by caregivers of community-dwelling persons diagnosed with Alzheimer’s or a related dementia (ADRD). Interviews were conducted with 20 caregivers in South Florida. Twelve of these interviews include caregiving experiences during the highly active 2004–2005 hurricane seasons. Results indicate that persons in earlier stages of ADRD can, and often do, remain engaged in the disaster preparation and planning process. However, during the early stages, persons may also resist evacuation, even if the caregiver felt it was necessary. During later stages of the disease, caregivers reported less resistance to disaster-related decisions, however, with the tradeoff of less ability to assist with preparation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]