Heating, power and storm plans
Governor Mike DeWine’s state of emergency ahead of Winter Storm Fern allowed state agencies to move quickly to support local communities as snow totals climbed toward a foot in parts of Ohio and wind chills plunged well below zero. Nursing homes are required to keep resident areas between 71 and 81 degrees, a standard advocates have been reminding facilities about as temperatures dropped and wind chills reached as low as minus 20 in some areas.
Facilities have leaned on pre-existing winter emergency plans that include backup generators, fuel reserves and contracts with suppliers in case of power interruptions. In some regions, water main breaks and low pressure have added another layer of concern, prompting facilities to stockpile bottled water and monitor plumbing to avoid burst pipes.
Staff shortages and staying fully staffed
With many counties under snow emergencies and residents urged to stay home, getting workers to and from nursing facilities has been an ongoing challenge. Some facilities have relied on staff sleeping on-site, arranging four-wheel-drive transportation, or shifting to longer shifts so residents continue to receive medication, meals and personal care without interruption.
Statewide, hospitals and emergency services remained open during the storm, but hazardous roads raised concerns about delays if a resident needed to be transferred for higher-level care. Administrators say they have tried to keep non-urgent appointments in-house or rescheduled to reduce transport risks during the worst of the weather.
Protecting residents from cold-related health risks
Older adults face higher risks from hypothermia and frostbite, in part because they may not feel cold as quickly and often live with chronic conditions that stress the heart and lungs. To cope, facilities have emphasized layered clothing, warm blankets, and limiting time residents spend near drafty windows or in doorways used by staff and delivery drivers.
Preventing falls on snow and ice has also been a priority. State winter-safety guidance urges older adults to avoid walking in more than an inch of snow, use footwear with strong traction, and ask for help when surfaces are slick—precautions that facilities say they apply to parking lots, walkways and even indoor entry areas where snowmelt can make floors slippery. Many homes have temporarily rerouted entry traffic, placed extra mats and signage at doors, and increased staffing during peak activity hours to help residents move safely.
Isolation, mental health and community help
Even as facilities close doors to the storm outside, staff have been working to keep residents from feeling cut off from family and community. Visiting hours in some places have been disrupted by the weather, so nursing homes have turned to phone calls and video chats to help residents connect with loved ones while roads are hazardous.
Nonprofit groups that serve older Ohioans, such as those providing Meals on Wheels and senior support, report that they pre-staged extra meals and “blizzard boxes” of shelf-stable food ahead of the storm in case regular deliveries stopped, a model facilities also follow when stocking pantries and personal snacks. Aging advocates are urging Ohioans to check in on older friends and relatives in long-term care, even if only by phone, and to continue those check-ins through the rest of the winter, when another snap of bitter cold could arrive with little notice.