We are in SC. I stayed for Matthew 2 years ago and was fine. My mother was still in NY then. She is not very mobile. I think people will think I should bring her to my home but I think that could prove more difficult if it becomes bad.
We stayed through Katrina with lots of lessons learned. If your elder is in a NH, they will have a plan for moving if governor has called a mandatory evacuation for their area. If they stay with their NH group, whatever system of payment, medications and care plan will travel with them, whether it means shelter in a gym or staying at a convent or a NH in another area or even adjoining state for several days. NH retains responsibility. My MIL was in a NH in NOLA and they evacuated en masse to a hotel in Houston basically setting up a triage NH within the hotel. Couple died enroute as it is extraordinarily stressful & a couple went into freestanding hospice. Everyone on LA Medicaid folded into TX Medicaid. MILs NH did not reopen and TX medicaid caseworker found her a NH in TX & coordinated the move.
If you go and take them, everything is now your responsibility. If their old NH reopens a few days after and none the worse for wear for facility or staff. Then your elder likely goes back with no worries. BUT if their NH gets whacked, or staff does not return as their homes got whacked, then getting them into a few NH facility will be totally on you to find a spot and provide paperwork needed. Plan on their staying & living with you till that happens.
If you get them, Taking all their medications is critical. Trying to get refills can be challenging as the RXs are not in the database of the CVS & Walgreens. You’ll need to get new scripts.
Florence is going to be super bad witch if she stays on current course. Storms are no picnic but they pass within a few hours. The issue is they lay bare infrastructure problems. Best of luck folks
I live in NOLA and saw the devastation from Katrina. My aunt was in a senior living center and refused to leave with us. They chose not to evacuate because they were 6 stories high but once the water began to cover the stairs on the first floor they had to get the National Guard to get them out. Many had to swim to boats and were taken to overcrowded shelters where they were confused and scared. We could not locate my aunt for over a week. Thankfully my cousin is a police officer and was able to track down where she was taken. Just make absolutely sure of their plans. Many hard lessons were learned from Katrina. I don't mean to frighten you but I just want to encourage you to confirm with the facility how and when they intend on leaving and to where. I would also get the personal cell numbers of those in charge. Remember in a major hurricane cell phones can go down. I personally would take my mother with me but it depends on your ability to care for her and how confident you are in the facility. Sending prayers to the East Coast,
Thanks all for the answers. My mother is being evacuated with her facility today. We are near the coast but the news inland is also bad. The facility has been very helpful. My mother is overweight and has a host of health issues. If we suffer badly here at our home it would be very hard to get her help. Or impossible. Hoping for the best for all of us this week.
When Hurricane Irma hit Florida last year my MIL stayed in her facilty. Her place is only 2 years old so it has impact windows and a generator. They told us if they needed to evacuate that they would bus them to their sister facility. The staff stayed during the hurricane and kept them busy. It worked out perfect!
Riverdale, My thoughts are still with you. I popped by here today looking for your post.
Glad to hear your Mom is being evacuated.
I think I read your home is in Virginia and certainly not out of harms way. Strong structures and brick buildings are vulnerable to roof damage from high winds. I speak from experience. There’s also the chance of downed power lines and being without power for days/weeks. Another reason not to bring your Mom into your home.
Again, my thoughts are with you, your family, your Mom, and all Caregivers and their loved ones in the path of this storm.
My only other suggestion is if you are in an area that orders mandatory evacuations seriously consider evacuating yourself.
We are in SC. My mother's facility evacuated today. My husband and I are staying put as we are away from the ocean and well elevated. I didn't evacuate 2 years ago and saw numerous struggles for many doing so in cars. Just hoping for not too much destruction for all those in the path.
My mom stayed in her memory care / assisted living home for Irma (Florida). So many staff and staff family were at the facility. The director texted me to keep me informed. My mom had no recollection. They did great. I felt it would be too disruptive to take her out. My prayers are with anyone facing Florence
We had a hurricane once while my mom was in a nursing home. It was expected to be bad but the facility gave residents families the choice of what to do. My dad (younger and far healthier then) chose to stay at the nursing home throughout the storm. He spent the night in my mom’s room and was a helping hand to the staff. His presence comforted my mom and made her not be anxious. I think only a few families took their loved ones away. Good luck on a plan
We are in NC, so, I am concerned and anxious. My LO's MC says they have never had to evacuate. I called to check on plans and they will go to the National Guard Amory, It's likely safe, but, I'm wondering how practical that is. She is further North than I am, so, hopefully, they won't be as impacted as we are. I'm trying not to worry. I also have my own parents who are mentally okay, thought anxious prone, but, dealing with long power outages, flood waters and long periods without resources would be hard for them.....me too.
I'm saying prayers for all of those who are in the path of Florence. I've tried to prepare, but, the shelves are getting scarce. I was able to fill my gas tank yesterday. The lines were out of this world.
Good morning everyone, I have been thinking about all those caregivers in the path of the storm and I want you to know that there are many prayers going out to you from people here on the Mississippi Gulf Coast. Our power companies are on standby to come to your aid and many of our churches have disaster relief teams who will come in to rebuild. I believe the original poster’s dilemma has already been resolved because her mother’s facility is being evacuated. I noticed in the original post, “I think people will think.......”. I understand completely this feeling. No matter what our circumstances, guilt seems to be ready and waiting. We usually don’t know what people really think, and only you know what would be best for you and your family. “People” don’t get to drive our decisions unless they are going to be part of the solution. I would like to remind everyone who is in Florence’s path that they pay close attention to the storm surge warnings. The majority of deaths and destruction are not caused by wind, but by storm surge. Katrina was a Category 3 storm, but was pushing a Category 5 storm surge. If you live near the coastline, or even nearby bays, rivers, etc. check the elevation of your home. This information is usually found on county or city websites. The worst part of a storm is the aftermath, when you may go weeks without electricity or clean water. This information should influence whether you want to pull a LO from a facility before a storm. My parents both live in a Nursing Home about 15 miles north of the coast. They are at a high elevation with generators and extra staff during and after a storm. Last year, with Hurricane Nate, it was a comfort to know they were safe, and would be in better conditions than we would have after the storm. Thankfully, it was a minimal storm.
If your elder is in a NH, they will have a plan for moving if governor has called a mandatory evacuation for their area. If they stay with their NH group, whatever system of payment, medications and care plan will travel with them, whether it means shelter in a gym or staying at a convent or a NH in another area or even adjoining state for several days. NH retains responsibility. My MIL was in a NH in NOLA and they evacuated en masse to a hotel in Houston basically setting up a triage NH within the hotel. Couple died enroute as it is extraordinarily stressful & a couple went into freestanding hospice. Everyone on LA Medicaid folded into TX Medicaid. MILs NH did not reopen and TX medicaid caseworker found her a NH in TX & coordinated the move.
If you go and take them, everything is now your responsibility. If their old NH reopens a few days after and none the worse for wear for facility or staff. Then your elder likely goes back with no worries.
BUT if their NH gets whacked, or staff does not return as their homes got whacked, then getting them into a few NH facility will be totally on you to find a spot and provide paperwork needed. Plan on their staying & living with you till that happens.
If you get them, Taking all their medications is critical.
Trying to get refills can be challenging as the RXs are not in the database of the CVS & Walgreens. You’ll need to get new scripts.
Florence is going to be super bad witch if she stays on current course.
Storms are no picnic but they pass within a few hours. The issue is they lay bare infrastructure problems.
Best of luck folks
I learned a lot.
My thoughts are still with you. I popped by here today looking for your post.
Glad to hear your Mom is being evacuated.
I think I read your home is in Virginia and certainly not out of harms way. Strong structures and brick buildings are vulnerable to roof damage from high winds. I speak from experience. There’s also the chance of downed power lines and being without power for days/weeks. Another reason not to bring your Mom into your home.
Again, my thoughts are with you, your family, your Mom, and all Caregivers and their loved ones in the path of this storm.
My only other suggestion is if you are in an area that orders mandatory evacuations seriously consider evacuating yourself.
I'm saying prayers for all of those who are in the path of Florence. I've tried to prepare, but, the shelves are getting scarce. I was able to fill my gas tank yesterday. The lines were out of this world.
I have been thinking about all those caregivers in the path of the storm and I want you to know that there are many prayers going out to you from people here on the Mississippi Gulf Coast. Our power companies are on standby to come to your aid and many of our churches have disaster relief teams who will come in to rebuild.
I believe the original poster’s dilemma has already been resolved because her mother’s facility is being evacuated. I noticed in the original post, “I think people will think.......”. I understand completely this feeling. No matter what our circumstances, guilt seems to be ready and waiting. We usually don’t know what people really think, and only you know what would be best for you and your family. “People” don’t get to drive our decisions unless they are going to be part of the solution.
I would like to remind everyone who is in Florence’s path that they pay close attention to the storm surge warnings. The majority of deaths and destruction are not caused by wind, but by storm surge. Katrina was a Category 3 storm, but was pushing a Category 5 storm surge. If you live near the coastline, or even nearby bays, rivers, etc. check the elevation of your home. This information is usually found on county or city websites.
The worst part of a storm is the aftermath, when you may go weeks without electricity or clean water. This information should influence whether you want to pull a LO from a facility before a storm. My parents both live in a Nursing Home about 15 miles north of the coast. They are at a high elevation with generators and extra staff during and after a storm. Last year, with Hurricane Nate, it was a comfort to know they were safe, and would be in better conditions than we would have after the storm. Thankfully, it was a minimal storm.
Prayers are with you and your loved ones.
Be safe.
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