Significant flooding harm to independent living units attributable to Hurricane Ian is main to the everlasting closure of six neighborhoods at Evangelical Lutheran Good Samaritan Society–Kissimmee Village in Florida.
An evaluation by a catastrophe and restoration contractor led the senior living and care supplier to announce that 523 units have been “uninhabitable” due to the extent of the harm, ensuing in termination notices of lease agreements efficient Dec. 1. The units can be demolished.
Good Sam Vice President of Operations Aimee Middleton instructed McKnight’s Senior Living that Hurricane Ian brought about close by Shingle Creek to rise to report ranges. Kissimmee Village is made up of 14 neighborhoods throughout 425 acres alongside the southern banks of the creek and is a part of an age-restricted golf course group.
“Due to significant damage caused by flooding, many of the independent living residential units are unsafe for occupancy, and we have been encouraging these residents to secure other housing arrangements indefinitely,” Middleton mentioned. “We recognize this is a very difficult situation for the community. We have explored alternative solutions, but unfortunately they are not enough to address the long-term challenges.”
Independent living units affected have been in the Orangewood Place, Cypress Landings, Birchwood Court, Grand Oaks, Mapleleaf Shores and elements of Walnut Glen neighborhoods, in accordance to an announcement on the organization’s website. According to the corporate, nearly 50% of the affected independent living residents have already got terminated their occupancy agreements.
Good Sam and affiliate Sanford Health indicated that October rents wouldn’t be collected from displaced residents and that refunds can be issued to those that already paid this month’s hire.
Before the storm, Good Sam / Sanford Health made preparations to evacuate all Kissimmee Village assisted living and nursing properties residents and partnered with native officers to plan evacuation help for independent living residents, Middleton mentioned.
Middleton mentioned that the supplier now could be working with affected independent living residents to acquire help and assets by way of the Federal Emergency Management Agency, the Red Cross and different aid packages, together with Transitional Shelter Assistance, which helps people e book resort lodging.
Good Sam, she mentioned, will proceed to keep Kissimmee Village’s independent living neighborhoods in Village West, Heritage Creekside and the remaining units in Walnut Glen that had minimal harm. Its Kissimmee Village assisted living communities and expert nursing amenities additionally will stay open. The whole campus stays below a compulsory evacuation order issued by Osceola County.
The wastewater remedy system on the campus is working on a contingency plan accepted by way of the Florida Department of Environmental Protection. The wastewater assortment system is functioning and accepted to be used as nicely, and bogs could be flushed with out threat of sewage backup, in accordance to the web site announcement.
President Biden known as Hurricane Ian the “deadliest storm” in Florida’s historical past. Fitch Ratings mentioned the pace of economic recovery for areas affected by the storm may very well be sluggish in contrast with earlier hurricanes.
Federal aid obtainable, requested
Meanwhile, healthcare amenities and nonprofit organizations, together with some assisted living suppliers, can apply for federal public assistance associated to the hurricane.
President Biden amended his main catastrophe declaration earlier this month, rising the extent of public help funding obtainable for particles removing and emergency protecting measures by way of the Federal Emergency Management Agency.
LeadingAge Florida and the Florida Senior Living Association mentioned they’re unaware of any of their members making use of for this funding help, nonetheless.
“We do believe, however, that our members should receive some relief, as many have suffered significant losses,” FSLA President and CEO Gail Matillo instructed McKnight’s Senior Living. “We’ve also reached out to Sen. Marco Rubio (R-FL) to discuss ensuring Florida’s assisted living facilities are specifically included in Hurricane Ian relief plans.”
According to FSLA, of the 1,174 assisted living communities in the trail of Hurricane Ian, 149 reported harm, with 28 reporting main harm and 22 reporting being out of service.
In the letter to Rubio, FSLA requested that catastrophe aid cowl all uninsured and uncompensated losses for assisted living communities associated to flood and structural harm, in addition to evacuations of residents and workers members.
FSLA additionally requested for monetary help to compensate senior living workers for repairs to their properties not coated by private insurance coverage, in order that assisted living communities “do not lose their staff in an already tight healthcare workforce market.” In addition the affiliation requested that assisted living suppliers be reimbursed for elevated staffing prices associated to the storm.