Influenza Preparedness in Nebraska Assisted Living Facilities

Abstract

We conducted an electronic survey to determine the state of planning for pandemic influenza in assisted living facilities. A survey instrument was designed with input from a number of experts and sent out to 275 Nebraska assisted living facilities; responses were received from 137. The survey covered approximately 20 areas related to preparedness. About one-third of assisted living facilities had a pandemic influenza plan; 45% had started stockpiling, and 55% expected significant staff shortages in a pandemic. Only 5% were willing to discharge current patients to make room for overflow hospital patients. Assisted living facilities have started pandemic influenza planning, but additional work needs to be done. These facilities are unlikely to be able to assist with hospital patient overflow in a pandemic.

Disaster Preparedness and Pandemic Plans: A Survey of Nebraska Home Health Agencies

“…The second survey asked if the pandemic planning was a separate plan or was included within the overall disaster plan. In addition, several questions specifically asked about pandemic influenza planning; these results are in Table 3. A comparison among 4 different health care institutions (hospitals, nursing homes, assisted-living facilities, and HHAs) is shown in Table 4 14,15 . All institutions are in Nebraska and all have participated in pandemic influenza preparedness surveys.…”

“…A comparison among 4 different health care institutions (hospitals, nursing homes, assisted-living facilities, and HHAs) is shown in Table 4 14 , 15 . All institutions are in Nebraska and all have participated in pandemic influenza preparedness surveys.…”

Pandemic Influenza Plans in Residential Care Facilities

“…Prior to this study, the only evaluation of RCF pandemic preparedness was in Nebraska assisted living facilities, where about one-third of assisted living facilities had a pandemic influenza plan. 15 Since RCFs are regulated at the individual state-level, pandemic preparedness in RCFs may vary significantly. However, even though nursing homes are federally regulated, the extent of influenza pandemic preparedness among U.S. nursing homes remain sun known.…”