CALA News & Views | Issue 49 | Top 5

to Help with emergency Connections 5 Preparedness Residential Care Facilities for the Elderly (RCFEs) and Continuing Care Retirement Communities (CCRCs) are required to follow specific emergency preparedness requirements that can be found in Health and Safety Code 1569.695. CALA was instrumental in shaping strong, effective and proven practices to prepare for and respond to emergencies. In addition to the many resources available to members on the CALA Emergency Preparedness webpages, consider the following top five connections to help strengthen your emergency preparedness planning. By Selena Coppi Hornback, CALA Director of Public Policy

Many CALA members already engage with their local police officers and sheriff’s deputies, fire department personnel and EMSA paramedics and other emergency services providers. Establishing relationships with these key emergency personnel is beneficial in helping them know that they have older adults in their jurisdictions and allows providers to help educate them on how best to interact with and serve older adults and those with cognitive impairment. CALA members have benefited from these relationships in numerous ways including by receiving emergency preparedness training at the community or receiving guidance on individual emergency preparedness plans and being included in areawide emergency preparedness drills and planning. Over the years, CALA members have found various ways to establish these beneficial relationships. Many members have simply invited emergency responders into their communities for tours as a first step. During various times of the year like Veterans Day, Independence Day, and on 9/11, members have thanked and celebrated first responders by inviting them to a breakfast or lunch, bringing breakfast or other goodies to them, or bringing them care packages. These are just a few of the ways CALA members have creatively fostered relationships with local emergency responders.

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Local Law Enforcement

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Fire Department

Emergency Medical Services Authority 3