Homecare Providers and Patients Alike Hit Hard by Katrina

Main Category: Caregivers / Homecare
Article Date: 04 Sep 2005 - 21:00 PDT

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Close to 50 home health providers in the New Orleans area are reportedly flooded and possibly destroyed. Another 44 agencies in Louisiana have been affected by the winds and rain. All told, these agencies serve about 21,000 home health patients. And that's just in Louisiana.

Homecare providers in Alabama have also been hit hard. The Home Care Association of Alabama http://www.alabamahomecare.org has posted emergency procedures for providers.

Barbara Citarella, president of RBC Limited in Staatsburg, NY (http://www.rbc.limited.com) said state homecare associations in the region are trying to pool personnel resources to fill in the gaps caused by the disaster. Her firm, which deals with emergency preparedness planning for homecare providers, is collecting information about home health nurses and other staff in the Southeast who might be able to help in the hurricane-hit areas. She asks that agencies email the information to rbc@netstep.net.

Warren Hebert, executive director of the Homecare Association of Louisiana, estimates that as many as 2,000 homecare employees have been displaced from their homes within the flooded area of New Orleans, Metairie, and Kenner. He said, "Early estimates are that the levee repair and pumping water out will take weeks or months."

During emergencies where weather threatens life and limb or power is lost, homecare providers often join the ranks of emergency first responders along with police and firefighters. But Katrina reminds us that many homecare personnel themselves are also trying to escape danger are in need of basic shelter.

Herbert said efforts are underway to connect displaced employees with other home health colleagues that might be willing to house them. "Some we'll be able to connect with jobs with other agencies that will be working to pick up the surge of patients coming from New Orleans, Metairie, Kenner, or other areas that are temporarily uninhabitable."

"We'll be dealing with public health issues as many areas hit by the storm will have no refrigeration, a lack of potable water, and sewerage issues. In New Orleans challenges will also include toxic and petroleum products mixed in with standing water, and mosquito-carried diseases."

Mike Hamilton, executive director of the Alabama Durable Medical Equipment Association, said, "The biggest problem we have right now is the lack of communication. Even cell phones aren't working in many areas, and land line phone systems are out all over the flooded areas. With many roads closed, and the flooding, the power repair crews can't even get in the areas that still have buildings standing that could use electricity. For the present, we are encouraging members to make donations to the American Red Cross and the Salvation Army, and let the professional disaster recovery experts handle the first phases of getting help to folks." (http://www.redcross.org)

American Association for Homecare,
625 Slaters Lane,
Suite 200, Alexandria,
VA 22314.
For more information, please call AAHomecare at (703) 836-6263.
http://www.aahomecare.org.

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