Concern Grows for Seniors in Texas Senior Communities Without Power
As power outages continue to linger in dozens of senior communities across Southeast Texas, families with loved ones are voicing increased concerns about their health and safety. According to the Southeast Texas Regional Advisory Council (SETRAC), at least 50 nursing homes and 66 assisted living facilities are still without power as of Thursday.
These facilities are part of the more than 923,000 CenterPoint customers who remain in the dark following Hurricane Beryl’s impact on the Houston area.
Janet Martinez, whose parents are residents at St. James House of Baytown, shared her worries about the situation. She expressed, “My dad’s on oxygen, my mom requires medication that has to be chilled, and the ice only lasts so long in the ice chest. They’re sitting in there, and it’s so hot. It’s concerning. These facilities should take priority.”
While the nursing home at St. James has a generator, the assisted living units do not, leaving residents like Martinez’s parents struggling to cope with the extreme heat. Despite efforts to stay cool by using fans and visiting common areas, Martinez’s parents ultimately decided to move to a hotel for better conditions.
Concerns extend beyond Martinez’s family as she worries about other residents at the facility who may be facing similar challenges. Texas state law does not mandate assisted living facilities to have generators, but nursing facilities are legally required to have them.
Addressing the issue, Texas Director of Emergency Management Nim Kidd emphasized the responsibility of senior facility operators to ensure the safety and well-being of residents. He stated, “That location is responsible for the health, safety, and welfare of the patients and residents that are there; it is that facility’s responsibility.”
With ongoing power outages posing risks to vulnerable seniors, it is crucial for authorities and facility operators to prioritize the needs of these communities to ensure their safety and comfort during challenging times.