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AAs Hurricane Ivan swerved from its expected path toward Mobile Bay in September and roared toward Pensacola, SLPs employed in skilled nursing facilities in that Florida city prepared for the worst.
"We had stand-by evacuation for several of our facilities," noted Nina Sherman, an SLP and interim regional director for Florida's panhandle region for Select Medical Rehab Corp.
Until a few years ago, many SNF facilities in a hurricane's path routinely evacuated residents into churches or other large, unequipped buildings. Sherman recalls the feeding challenges she and other SLPs faced during evacuations, and more serious dangers.
"The state analyzed the data, and we now know it's safer to shelter in place if at all possible during these mega-storms," said Sherman. "What we learned is that some residents went into cardiac or respiratory arrest when they were moved."
So during this mega-storm, none of the SNFs in Sherman's area in the Pensacola area relocated residents. High winds did batter one facility and residents were moved out of their rooms, but there were no injuries.
"We're better prepared now, and we don't react from fear," Sherman said.
And although some of the SLPs and other rehab providers found their homes uninhabitable, they returned to work within 72 hours, Sherman said, because they knew many of the residents were medically fragile and needed treatment.
"If you're committed to this population, your commitment withstands these hurricanes," said Sherman. "You work hard and love seeing the successes. And in a SNF, even when a resident is no longer on your caseload, you still have a relationship, and see them there. They become part of your family."
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