Most Senior Care Facilities in Manatee County are Underprepared for Hurricanes

With temperate climate, affordable cost-of-living and a relaxing lifestyle, it’s no surprise Florida is home to America’s largest population of retired adults and senior citizens. However, despite Florida’s designation as the Sunshine State, disruptive weather, especially during summer months, is notorious for bringing devastating hurricanes and record-breaking heat across the state.

As Bradenton residents can attest, 2017’s hurricane season was particularly destructive. Hurricane Irma alone cost the state billions and took more than 70 lives. This included 12 people at a Hollywood, Florida nursing home that lost power in the days following Irma’s wrath.

In response to Irma’s devastation and tragedy, this past March Governor Rick Scott issued a new mandate requiring all senior living facilities to install back-up power generators, and with enough fuel supply to run them for 72 hours. All nursing homes and assisted living centers in the state were expected to comply with the new legislation by June 1, the start of the 2018 hurricane season.

While many facilities are already in compliance, there are many more without the financial resources required to make these expensive system upgrades. State officials estimate that the total cost for all facilities statewide to comply will approach $430 million.

According to recent data reported by Florida’s Agency for Health Care Administration (AHCA), most nursing homes and assisted living centers in Florida were not ready as the 2018 hurricane season kicked off earlier last month. Statewide, 74 percent of senior care facilities were not compliant as of May 25. Only 48 nursing homes and 91 assisted-living facilities had installed alternative power system equipment that had been inspected and approved by state officials, according to the data.

In South Florida, the numbers are worse – 84 percent of nursing homes and assisted living facilities had to comply with the new state law as of May 25, and only 9 assisted living facilities and 11 nursing homes had an inspected alternative cooling system in place.

A combined total of 691 nursing homes and assisted-living facilities have requested extensions to fund, install and inspect the appropriate equipment. The facilities whose requests for extensions have been approved, have until January 1, 2019 to meet the requirements.

Manatee County is home to 13 nursing homes and 42 assisted-living facilities, nearly all of which are in Bradenton. According to the AHCA, 65 percent of emergency power plans have been approved in the county, as of today. However, all but 1 nursing home and only 19 of the 42 assisted-living facilities have requested and received an extension to implement the appropriate updates. This means that at least 56 percent of Manatee County senior care facilities are unprepared for the current hurricane season and may brave the storms without backup power.

As concerning as these numbers are, there is positive news for the local senior care facilities who have yet to comply with the new law. A program called Commercial Property Assessed Clean Energy Financing, or C-PACE as it is often called, has been approved in Manatee County to provide business owners, including assisted living facilities, with funding for necessary improvement projects.

This includes the installation of impact-resistant windows and doors, roofing, solar panels, and yes, even HVAC and power systems. This means that senior care facilities in Manatee County who apply to participate in the C-PACE program can receive the financing they need to meet Governor Scott’s new mandate.

Property owners pay for the improvement projects over time through a voluntary assessment on their property tax bill. And, because C-PACE loans are tied to the property itself and not the property owner, it offers a rare chance for property owners to overcome common financing barriers and access affordable capital for critical projects.

So why haven’t more senior care facilities applied to participate in the C-PACE program?

The answer is simple. C-PACE financing programs, like that provide by the nation’s leading C-PACE provider, Ygrene, are offered throughout the state, but the majority of Florida’s property owners have not yet heard of this option. Ygrene’s program is currently available in more than 150 cities and counties in the state of Florida, including Manatee County. However, according to a recent survey commissioned by the National Hurricane Survival Initiative, less than 8 percent of Floridians are even aware of the program.

It’s important that all nursing homes and assisted living facilities in Florida, especially those located here in Manatee County, know that there is an option out there for affording the new generators being mandated by law. Beyond that, C-PACE financing offers these facilities a practical solution for affording other projects that will improve the overall building conditions for the seniors in their care. C-PACE providers like Ygrene are here to support senior care facilities and share their same goal – ensuring people are kept safe during disasters.

Given that we are already more than a month into hurricane season, facility upgrades for nursing homes should be a top priority; because as we all know, when the extreme heat and grueling storms hit Florida, our seniors are among the most vulnerable.