Senior care facilities help older folks maintain dignity, extend independence, connect socially and stay safe. But these facilities are at special risk for floods and fires due to their resident population. Hearing deficits, mobility and strength problems, forgetfulness and lax resident safety practices all mean that fixtures can leak unnoticed, and flames can grow quietly out of control.
“Special care is absolutely necessary during mitigation and restoration because a vulnerable, fragile population has been affected,” says Jason Blair, President, Paul Davis Restoration, Sud Ouest/ Rive Sud, QC, who notes that intensifying weather threatens senior care facilities, too. “Restoration must be carefully choreographed with sensitivity, speed and skill to return the community to normal as fast as possible.”
Why is property damage restoration so challenging at senior care facilities?
Difficult relocation: For many restoration projects occupants can be temporarily relocated during repairs. Relocating senior care residents is difficult or impossible due to health challenges, care disruptions, mobility issues and accessibility concerns.
Project complexity: Senior care facilities have intricate building processes and functions designed to meet high resident needs: extensive plumbing, medical facilities and supplies, robust HVAC systems, commercial kitchens and high quantities of general and medical waste. When damage occurs, multiple critical systems are often affected and demand concurrent restoration by skilled teams.
Disrupted routines: Disrupted habits and environments are particularly difficult for seniors to navigate. Altered surroundings and routines can cause falls, wandering, confusion and distress. To protect residents, restoration activities must be screened off, staged, scheduled and timed to reduce noise and disruption. Repairs must accommodate healthcare needs, mealtimes and quiet hours.
Health concerns: Because seniors have compromised immune systems, they are more vulnerable to health challenges than younger people. If a flood has occurred, project teams must thoroughly identify and treat moisture and mould risks. If a fire has occurred, technicians must carefully delineate and remove smoke odours and soot deposits to avoid health impacts. Dust must be minimized, too.
Communications: Posting signs and sending emails aren’t enough to help residents understand the damage and repair plans. Seniors have a range of faculties, with some possessing no digital skills and rudimentary reading comprehension. Experienced restoration firms understand how to help staff keep residents informed.
“These projects are sensitive, but Paul Davis Restoration has the right experience and is more than equal to the challenges,” Blair concludes. “From our exceptional training and excellent technology to our reassuring on-site personnel, our teams know how to compassionately return senior facilities to peak operations after floods and fires.”
