Addressing Fire Safety & Emergency Disaster Planning Needs of Older

Adults in Northern ManhattanPresented by Douglas Drax,

Fire Safety Supervisor, FEMA GrantElizabeth Alvarado, SW Director

Isabella Home & Community Based Services

2010 Emergency Preparedness Annual Meeting June 10, 2010, Castleton, NY

Isabella Geriatric Center, Inc. FEMA Grantin conjunction with the

Columbia University College of Dental Medicine

Isabella Geriatric Center

Founded in 1875, Isabella Geriatric Center has been located in Northern Manhattan serving the elderly with low- and middle income section of NYC.It’s on-campus programs include:A 705-bed nursing facility with programs for restorative rehabilitation, dementia and ventilator care77 apartments of affordable independent senior housing with daily care services and transportationA medical model adult day care program for 40 community participantsAn on-site medical clinic for nursing home residents

Isabella Geriatric Center

Isabella’s off-campus, community-based programs include:

A 450-client long-term home health care program and a licensed home care agency which provides training to paraprofessional staff. A storefront Senior Resource Center whose goal is to help independent seniors and their caregivers with concerns such as benefits; nearly 4,000 clients annually receive free servicesTwo Naturally Occurring Retirement Community (NORC) programs which reached nearly 1,000 clients in 2009

Isabella Geriatric Center’sUpper Manhattan Partnership For Senior

Independence (UMPSI)

In 2008, DFTA awarded Isabella as lead agency with 8 other community agencies to provide case management services to more than 1,000 largely homebound persons aged 60 or older in the Northern Manhattan neighborhoods of Washington Heights, Inwood, and Central and West Harlem. UMPSI is responsible for leading this FEMA-sponsored effort. It is this vulnerable population upon which its Fire Prevention and Emergency & Disaster Planning efforts have been focused.

Goal of FEMA Funded Grant:

In collaboration between Isabella Geriatric Center(Isabella), Columbia University College of Dental Medicine (CDM) and the Upper

Manhattan Partnership for Senior Independence (UMPSI)

The Main Goal of the FEMA Funded Project:to diminish potential barriers to accessibility,

safety, security and usability of home environments for older people with a focus on fire safety efforts.

Why Focus on Fire Safety and Disaster Planning for Seniors

•More than 1200 American over the age of 65 die as a result of a fire each year. •Older adults comprise over 25% of fire deaths of all ages, and 30% of fire deaths that occurs in the homes•Residential fires injures an average of 3,000 older adults each year.

Our population of Frail Elderly within UMPSI:

Older adults, especially those who are largely homebound, are at risk for fire related injury and death because they may:– Experience difficulty ambulating– Have cognitive dysfunction or be forgetful

especially in regards to smoking &cooking within the household

– Have hearing, smell and vision impairments and use medical devices (e.g. oxygen tanks) that may become a fire hazard

Process1. Fire Safety Team member contacts UMPSI member by

phone to elicit consent for a home visit.

2. At the home visit, team members:

– assess and document potential fire hazards in the home & emergency disaster planning coding – may include contacting Fire Dept – “CIDS”

– develop an Emergency Escape plan for the client

– replace fire/CO detector batteries with 10-year lithium versions whenever possible

3. Data are entered into database and reported to the Ombudsperson

Home Assessment

The fire safety team assesses:– Fire alarms– CO monitors– Batteries (10-year Lithium batteries installed)– Medical devices– Ability to ambulate– Clutter/Safe Steps/Lighting– Fire Escapes– Emergency Escape Plan

Role of the Ombudsperson• Provide Leadership to the Fire Safety Team• Liaison with NYC Fire Department

– Determine if client needs to be put on the Critical Information Dispatch System (CIDS) Report

– Colliers mansion (a dwelling filled with filth, trash and general refuse, typically as a result of hoarding)

• Ensure fire alarms, CO detectors and batteries are correctly installed

• Educates community

ResultsDemographics (N=200)

Average Age: 81 years old

Age Range: 42 – 102 years old

Gender: 74.2% Female

25.6% Male

Ethnicity

1.0%

27.9%

40.3%30.8%

African-American

Hispanic

Caucasian

Other

Personal Risk (N = 200) Personal Risk

6.67%3.9%

83.6%

67.8%

10%

0.0%

10.0%

20.0%

30.0%

40.0%

50.0%

60.0%

70.0%

80.0%

90.0%

Smoker

Oxygen Tank Present

Needs Help Ambulate

Lives Alone

Initiated link through CID

Fire Safety Home Assessment (N = 200)

97.1% 96.2%

28.4%

0.0%

10.0%

20.0%

30.0%

40.0%

50.0%

60.0%

70.0%

80.0%

90.0%

100.0%

Batteries Ins talled/Needed

CO Detector Needed

Fire Extinguisher Present

Lessons learned…

Most households do not have working or viable smoke or carbon monoxide (CO) detectors

Are not knowledgeable about Fire Safety & Emergency Disaster

Do not understand their tenant rights

Conclusions• Homebound seniors aging-in-place are at high

risk for fire related emergencies & lack of knowledge on emergency disaster planning:– A high proportion (over 80%) have elevated

personal risk and may have difficulty escaping a fire– While most senior homes have functional fire

alarms, batteries are typically non-functional– Only a very small proportion of seniors have

functional fire extinguishers

Conclusions• Seniors may have difficulty testing and

installing batteries in fire alarms. – Installing ten-year lithium batteries is

recommended

• Fire safety is an important, but often overlooked service, which can easily be incorporated into regular home care practice through good planning and better staff training and community education

ISABELLA GERIATRIC CENTER FEMA GRANT/FIRE SAFETY PROGRAM 5073 Broadway Ave. New York, NY 10034 212 342-9500 EXT. 1771

Fire Safety Ombudsperson HOME ENVIRONMENT ASSESSMENT

Client Name: ___________________________________ Date: _______________________

Address: _____________________________Apt:______ Phone:_______________________ [ ] Walk-up - # of flights:___________________ Elevator Building: [ ] Living Status: Alone: ______ Widowed________ Married______ Other: __________________ Special Instructions: _____________________________________________________________________ ______________________________________________________________________________________

FIRE SAFETY Yes No Is there a working fire/smoke alarm in the home? (Mandated) Lithium battery installed: (if no please explain) Date installed__________________

Is there a Carbon Monoxide Detector in the home? (Mandated) Is there a fire extinguisher in the home? If yes, does client know how to use? Does the client smoke cigarettes? Smoking materials away from bedding/furniture? (Client Informed Of Safety Measures) Proper use of 3-prong adapters/plug or extension cord overload? (Client Informed of Safe Use) Are there visibly frayed electric cords in use? (Client Informed Of Safety Measures) Use of portable heater? (Client Informed Of Safety Measures) Is there a box of baking soda available for use in kitchen fires? (Recommended) Gas leaks known or suspected? (Follow Up As Indicated If Suspected) Is oxygen being used near an open flame? (Client Informed Of Correct Usage) Are there unsafe steps? (Client Informed) Are there throw rugs on uncarpeted floors? (Client Informed) Hallway and passageway cleared? (Client Informed) Adequate lighting through home? (Client Informed) Does client utilize rollater/cane/wheelchair, walker? Is there a handicap ramp? Does client have life alert or any other system? Cognitive Status: Is client alert, orientated x1_____x 2 ______ x3_______ Household: Does client live with others (if yes, please include relationship, dependency) :

If no, do they have someone in bldg that checks in on them?

Type of Housing Condo/co-op Rent NYCHA Multi Family Unit Senior Citizen Housing Single Family Unit Public Housing Private Housing Other Landlord’s Name: Phone:

Superintendent’s Name: Phone:

Emergency Contact: Name:________________________________________ Relationship:__________________________________ Phone:__________________________ EMERGENCY/DISASTER PLANS/ EVACUATION: Patient/Caregiver instructed in 911 Does client have exit strategy in case of a fire: [ ] YES [ ] NO Client instructed/reviewed in safe exit strategy in case of a fire. Supply bag for Emergency Disaster reviewed. Reviewed educational materials Reviewed smoking precautions if applicable Reviewed bi-annual checking of smoke detector

Low Risk___ (able to leave without assistance, no immediate fire hazards)

Medium Risk____ (has ambulation device, lives alone, difficulty getting out)

High Risk____ (unable to get out of apt without assistance)

ONGOING FOLLOW – UP:

[ ] Smoke Detector not working – New Smoke Detector Installed: Date Installed:_______________

Client registered in the “Critical Information Dispatch System” [ ] YES [ ] NO