CALA News & Views | Issue 49 | Top 5

local hospital 4

It’s inevitable that residents will visit the hospital at some point while living in your community. One way to foster a good relationship between your local hospital staff and administrators, your staff and residents is to visit your local hospital(s) on an outing. One CALA member, Eskaton Village Placerville , was recently invited to bring residents to eat at the newly renovated hospital cafeteria. The hospital and Eskaton recognized the opportunity in having residents visit during a non-emergency to become familiar with the hospital and to help remove fear of the hospital. The hospital also got the chance to highlight their delicious chef-inspired menu.

CALA Associate Members Provide Valuable Resources CALA’s Associate members provide valuable resources and services to senior living providers. Go to the Find Products & Services link under the Associate Members tab to view the various types of products and services associate members provide.

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Vendors or outside resources for your emergency plan

up local and out-of-area (back-up) transportation with wheelchair lifts can be beneficial, as well as considering alternate types of transportation like school buses and paratransit. Installed generators need fuel and it’s important to foster relationships with fuel suppliers who understand the importance of the work you do, the older adults you serve, and the need for quick service during emergencies. If you plan to rent a generator, maintaining relationships with your supplier to ensure quick access if needed is also important. Other important relationships during times of emergencies are food and water suppliers, pharmacies and doctors. Whether communities evacuate their buildings or not, they will need speedy access to maintain these supplies and residents will need access to medications.

Emergency preparedness plans require providers to cultivate relationships with various groups to ensure they have transportation resources available if they need to evacuate their building, they have at least two designated locations they can evacuate to if needed, they have a permanent generator or can access emergency power during a power outage, and they are capable of being self-reliant for 72-hours. Providers have worked with sister communities and other CALA members to share transportation during emergency situations, and they have served as locations they can evacuate to during emergencies. Some providers have also thought outside the box regarding transportation and check in regularly with those vendors to maintain that relationship. Providing a credit card to keep on file may result in your community receiving priority for the transportation. Setting