Helping Nursing Homes Prepare for Disasters

The John A. Hartford Foundation funded an initiative called Hurricane and Disaster Preparedness for Long-Term Care Facilities as a result of deaths and suffering of older adults in long-term care facilities following Hurricanes Katrina, Rita, and Wilma. The authors of this paper describe the planning, research, and dissemination efforts of the Hartford grantees. This paper also provides insights into successful disaster grant making, noting foundations’ unique flexibility, strategic and long-term view, and ability to be a neutral convener of stakeholders that can help grantees work toward achieving major policy change.