Assisted Living Centers Not Required to Have Back-Up Generators
By: Josh Berry
Updated: January 4, 2013
Following the Christmas Day storm assisted living centers are now looking at how they can improve while some families wonder why their loved ones were left in the dark in the first place.
Power outages hit them too but because assisted living facilities are regulated by the state, they don't have to have a back up generator.
Only federally regulated nursing homes have to have the emergency back up generator and are able to because they receive medicaid funding to provide them.
It remains off Friday (1/4) but just one week prior with more than a corner full of snow built up on the rooftops, the Fox Ridge Luxury Senior Living Community's generator ran at full power. It kicks on when the power goes off.
Fox Ridge lost power Christmas night and didn't get it back till Thursday around 3 in the afternoon.
The clients depended on a lone fire place and back-up heating. Fox Ridge's back up generator only heats the common area, not the rooms.
'"It was not comfortable for them," said Fox Ridge Administrator, Theresa Davis . "They were in really good spirits considering that it's miserable."
In addition to staying late and braving the conditions to come in, Davis says they did what they could, even going out and buying extra blankets and covers.
She added, "They were definitely taken care of."
Not every assisted living community however, could say that because not every place had a generator.
"It was not a requirement of the facility," explained Kate Luck with the Department of Human Services.
A lack of funding keeps DHS regulated assisted living centers from being required to have one in place. The only thing required outside of 3-days-worth of food storage is having an emergency plan in place.
"[That's] In the case of an emergency to get residents out safely," Luck said.
They're now only recommending that the assisted living centers seek out ways to improve on the plan following this storm.
According to DHS, its regulated assisted living and residential care facilities likely still won't be required to install generators solely because of a lack of funding.
The Emergency Generator Law came about following an ice storm of 2000 when DHS worked with legislators and assisted living facilities to ensure the safety of residents. That only applied to federally regulated and funded nursing homes. Assisted living residential care centers were the exception.
However, as recently as November DHS realized there was no comprehensive plan in place which is when they started requiring one.
This means if your facility doesn't have one they could find themselves in the dark again the next time the power goes out.
For a list of all assisted living and residential care facilities in Arkansas, click one of the links below.
Related Links
Power outages hit them too but because assisted living facilities are regulated by the state, they don't have to have a back up generator.
Only federally regulated nursing homes have to have the emergency back up generator and are able to because they receive medicaid funding to provide them.
It remains off Friday (1/4) but just one week prior with more than a corner full of snow built up on the rooftops, the Fox Ridge Luxury Senior Living Community's generator ran at full power. It kicks on when the power goes off.
Fox Ridge lost power Christmas night and didn't get it back till Thursday around 3 in the afternoon.
The clients depended on a lone fire place and back-up heating. Fox Ridge's back up generator only heats the common area, not the rooms.
'"It was not comfortable for them," said Fox Ridge Administrator, Theresa Davis . "They were in really good spirits considering that it's miserable."
In addition to staying late and braving the conditions to come in, Davis says they did what they could, even going out and buying extra blankets and covers.
She added, "They were definitely taken care of."
Not every assisted living community however, could say that because not every place had a generator.
"It was not a requirement of the facility," explained Kate Luck with the Department of Human Services.
A lack of funding keeps DHS regulated assisted living centers from being required to have one in place. The only thing required outside of 3-days-worth of food storage is having an emergency plan in place.
"[That's] In the case of an emergency to get residents out safely," Luck said.
They're now only recommending that the assisted living centers seek out ways to improve on the plan following this storm.
According to DHS, its regulated assisted living and residential care facilities likely still won't be required to install generators solely because of a lack of funding.
The Emergency Generator Law came about following an ice storm of 2000 when DHS worked with legislators and assisted living facilities to ensure the safety of residents. That only applied to federally regulated and funded nursing homes. Assisted living residential care centers were the exception.
However, as recently as November DHS realized there was no comprehensive plan in place which is when they started requiring one.
This means if your facility doesn't have one they could find themselves in the dark again the next time the power goes out.
For a list of all assisted living and residential care facilities in Arkansas, click one of the links below.
Related Links
