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ElderCare Update in South Florida...ElderCare Update in South... ..ElderCare Update in South...

Cover Story: In The Wake of Irma … Déjà Vu for Seasoned Senior Advocate

Continued from page 1 Next, on Thursday before the Saturday As such, the state has set a gold standard hour shifts and longer to make sure two
night actual storm, seven corporate buses for being proactive for senior health and washers handled extra laundry loads,
Florida and turned its monster wrath on
Texas, Irma was being tracked in the were utilized to activate plans to safely safety, somewhat due to Ms. Bloom’s mar- food was prepared, fears were calmed and
Atlantic as a category 5 strength hurri- evacuate 180 residents of South Pointe shaling of senior-friendly legislation dur- ‘round-the-clock rehab, medical and per-
cane headed to blast the Caribbean Plaza which sits one block from the ing her eighteen-year stint as a Florida sonal care was delivered according to
Islands and South Florida. In fact, its ocean on South Miami Beach, and relo- State Representative. However, Irma was care plans,” she said.
force was soon to impact the entire state cate them to three of its other sites so large it threatened the entire state so In fact, that selflessness comes from
of Florida. around Miami Dade County. A caravan of that in some cases, even evacuation and the top down. On Monday after the
Elaine Bloom is President and CEO of trucks was rented to bring along mat- other preparation plans were compro- storm she was already de-briefing with
Plaza Health Network. For this executive tresses and supplies needed to provide mised and challenged by its strength. some directors and managers at the front
and her staff, there were seven skilled accommodations and weather the pre- All of Plaza Health Network, South desk of Aventura Plaza which was with-
nursing care and rehabilitation centers dicted storm. Double bed room occupan- Florida’s largest not-for-profit system of out air conditioning to avoid syphoning
and 900+ residents to prepare according cy was stretched to accommodate three skilled nursing facilities, was impacted the air conditioning from patient rooms
to protocols to ensure uninterrupted patient beds for bed-bound patients by the size of this storm. and areas. She was there in person to
food, safe shelter, medical care and per- while special areas, such as dining rooms, Lessons learned were déjà vu for this commend their efforts and support them
sonal care. Additionally, the staff required were set up to temporarily care for the long time knowledgeable advocate for in coming hours.
to nurse this vulnerable geriatric patient other incoming patients. senior health and disaster preparation. During our phone interview on Friday
population had their own homes and Current Chief Operating Officer Daniel “It is imperative to give special consider- after the storm hit, this CEO was travel-
families to safeguard too, so a plan of Galbut carries on his family legacy from ation to the vulnerable frail seniors in the ing in her car (dodging some downed
action was put in motion. the 12-bed convalescent home which was rehabilitation and skilled nursing sphere power lines and branches) to a few net-
Ironically, the lifesaving miracles of the precursor to the current 979-bed of health care delivery and to have facili- work care sites and encountered a man
technology - respirators, telemedicine, Plaza Health Network. Galbut’s great ties returned to power. Senior facilities in working outside on electrical lines. She
and medical scanning - make us all the grandmother was one of the founders of hot weather locales like Florida need to stopped to thank him for his help, asked
more vulnerable when Mother Nature the Hebrew Homes of Miami Beach be treated with the same level of urgency if he had drinking water and inquired
turns on us. Plaza Health Network’s which was created to provide care for eld- and priority as hospitals when it comes about timing for power restoration at the
patients have the benefit of 24/7 telemed- erly Jewish people and war veterans in to restoring power ASAP to accommo- nursing home. She found out that he and
icine and advanced telemetry needs in 1954. date air conditioning needs,” Ms. Bloom his crew were from Kentucky and she
addition to EKGs, respirators and other Galbut described the hurricane plant emphasized in a television interview dur- made sure he knew how appreciative she
electronically powered rehab apparatus preparation at each site. “Generators to ing the aftermath. was for his help. Official word was that
to help them recover and return home as support special medical needs and air Evacuation is not an outing when you the power would be restored to that site
soon as possible. During a power outage conditioning during a power outage are a are in frail health; and sweltering temper- within the hour on the fifth day after the
lives could be at risk without generators vital necessity to medically compromised atures take an additional toll on the aged. storm finally hit.
to maintain these lifesaving devices. patients in the sweltering heat. In the Unfortunately, this issue was dramatical- And finally, those who know Ms.
One of the first orders of business with days preceding Irma they were checked ly front and center in other facilities in Bloom concur that her praise for staff
the predicted storm was to communicate and double checked to be certain they South Florida resulting in an unfortunate commitment wasn’t just lip service.
plans to the families who entrusted their were above normal storm surge levels loss of life. Among many other urgent “to-do’s” the
loved ones to Plaza Health Network’s and were in working order. But the best Ms. Bloom credits the spirit of the corporate staff made certain that the
safekeeping. Updates via social media, laid plans – including weekly generator Plaza staff – at all levels – for their pas- scheduled bi-weekly payroll got out for
emails and phones helped families track load testing - cannot ensure that a Plan B sion to patients above and beyond their staff who also had families and homes to
where those patients would be relocated is avoidable. After the fifth power surge normal commitment of hours. She worry about after their shift was over.
during the storm. Designating the “A” at one facility after the storm passed, two named a host of corporate and individual There is no wonder that the facilities of
team of staffers who would care for back-up generators that Plaza maintains staffers for their selfless efforts during this network have earned 5-star ratings
patients around the clock during the ini- had to also be utilized since the regular and after the storm on behalf of their time and again.
tial three to five days of the storm generator was affected by the surge and patients.
onslaught and the “B” team who would could no longer handle the load,” he “We have administrators, nurse practi- For information on rehabilitation, skilled
relieve them once roads were declared said. tioners, registered nurses, licensed prac- nursing or long-term care, call
safe to travel was also a critical care con- Florida is home to a large population of tical nurses, dietary, housekeeping and (305) 917-0400 or email
sideration. senior citizens. The percentage of resi- maintenance workers – superstars at all info@plazahealth.org.
dents 60+ is expected to double by 2040. levels of responsibility – who tackled 12-

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28 October 2017 southfloridahospitalnews.com South Florida Hospital News