Nursing home disaster planning and response: a policy perspective.

Nursing home residents are among the most vulnerable members of a community threatened by disaster. In the past, insufficient planning has resulted in preventable morbidity and mortality for nursing home residents during disasters. State and federal policies have evolved over the past decade to improve oversight of nursing home disaster planning. However, continued political advocacy is critically necessary to promote the safety of nursing home residents during potential emergencies and, especially, naturally occurring disasters. Opportunities exist to improve nursing home disaster response, including better preparation and training and dedicated resources for data management and oversight. Copyright 2014, SLACK Incorporated.