Village Concepts Retirement Communities

Peninsula Daily News

Park View Villas in Port Angeles celebrated St. Patrick’s Day a bit early this year delivering nearly two dozen baskets to Port Angeles doctors who care for Park View residents. From left are Park View community relations director Renee Worthey, program director Kelly Trudeau (dressed as a leprechaun) and Dr. Michael Clancy.

Peninsula Daily News

PORT ANGELES-If a natural disaster hits, how prepared are the North Olympic Peninsula’s boarding homes and skilled nursing centers?

This question was discussed by more than two dozen health care professionals at the fifth annual Clallam County Boarding Home and Skilled Nursing Facilities’ emergency and disaster-planning meeting, held at Park View Villas.

This year, the group had an opportunity to hear from three American Red Cross nurses: Denise Bergeron, Janet Parris and Shirley Williams.

All three were dispatched by the national organization to assist during the aftermath of Hurricane Sandy last fall.

“Until you are in the midst of a disaster, you don’t get it,” said Bergeron, who spent three weeks in New York assisting in rescue and recovery efforts.

Safety Plan

Because the Peninsula is surrounded by mountains, water and trees, one challenge area professionals may face in the event of a natural disaster is blocked bridges, overpasses, highways and other arterials.

“We need a safety plan,” said Williams, who serves as Washington State nurse liaison for the American Red Cross.

For boarding homes and skilled nursing centers, Williams suggested professionals identify buildings to use in the event of evacuation, be prepared to care for community members for several days with adequate food and water supplies, and have a transport plan.

Residents of boarding homes and skilled nursing centers should have individual safety plans, too, she said.

“When we get a client, we really need to know about them,” Williams said, suggesting each resident have a portable, printed plan that includes basic information about them, their caregivers and the best way to approach their medical needs.

She suggested a grab-and-go bag for each person with a safety plan, extra clothes, incontinence products, personal-care items, a whistle, flashlight, batteries for hearing aids and some comfort items such as a book or pictures.

Williams also suggested that boarding homes and skilled nursing centers figure out easy ways to transport one week’s worth of critical medications for each individual as well as canes, walkers and wheelchairs.

“Park View Villas has a plan in place to assist our seniors, staff and community through a disaster, but we are continually enhancing our plans to be as prepared as possible,” said John LeClerc, executive director of Park View Villas.

Pictured: From left, John LeClerc, executive director of Park View Villas in Port Angeles, assisted Kathy Burrer, executive director of Dungeness Courte in Sequim, in organizing the fifth annual Clallam County Boarding Home and Skilled Nursing Facilities’ emergency and disaster-planning meeting, held at Park View. Americam Red Cross nurses Shirley Williams, Janet Parris and Denise Bergeron were the featured guest speakers.