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Scott Signs Nursing Home Generator Requirements
March 27, 2018
More than six months after residents of a Broward County nursing home died following Hurricane Irma, Gov. Rick Scott on Monday signed two bills that nail down requirements for nursing homes and assisted-living facilities to have backup generators and fuel supplies.
The bills passed this month by the Legislature, ratified rules issued by the Scott administration. The ratified rules replaced emergency rules issued in September following the deaths of residents of The Rehabilitation Center at Hollywood Hills.
Hurricane Irma knocked out the Hollywood nursing home’s air-conditioning system, which led to sweltering conditions.
The emergency rules drew legal challenges, but the more-permanent rules ratified by the Legislature this month were negotiated by the Scott administration and parts of the long-term care industry. The nursing home rule, for example, requires facilities to have alternative power sources, such as generators, that can keep temperatures at 81 degrees for at least 96 hours. Areas cooled would have to at least be the equivalent of 30 square feet per resident.
Also, nursing homes would have to keep 72 hours of fuel on site. Scott signed the bills during an appearance in Lee County.
Pictured. Generator at Century Health & Rehabilitation in Century. NorthEscambia.com photo, click to enlarge.
Comments
2 Responses to “Scott Signs Nursing Home Generator Requirements”
30 sq ft per resident is the size of 6×5 closet ? They’re kidding right?
fuel on site means can’t use natural gas ? Everything gets so complicated
when ink meets paper. How about air conditioned spaces must include working
areas (cooking/cleaning) dining areas and sleeping areas. Then only IF natural
gas is unavailable must there be 96 hours of fuel on site….primarily diesel fuel
or propane. Puerto Rico is a disaster…..months without electricity is a game
changer for everyone affected. Come on Politicians…..this really ain’t that hard
unless that’s how you roll !
I’m very glad to see this. I never realized that nursing homes (or any other 24 hour care facility, for that matter) didn’t have auxiliary power backup. I can’t imagine how you’d undertake patient care without having it. My mother’s nursing home had big diesel units, and they came in handy on at least one occasion.