Rock Creek Senior Living Prepares to Keep the Cold Outside

Just as it is at home, at Rock Creek Senior Living, preparing for winter can be an arduous task. There are several projects that need to be completed in preparation for cold weather and few of them are easy, especially when Jack Frost decides to come a little early, like this year.

Our homes and businesses can be affected by how quickly we can accommodate these tasks. If we move too early, we miss out on some of the creature comforts. If we wait too long, we run the risk of finding issues at the most inconvenient times (like a broken heater on the night the weather unexpectedly dips below freezing).

Preparation is a strong part of the human condition. Whether storing vegetables and meat or cutting firewood, our ancestors have been preparing for winter weather since their beginning. These days, preparing for cold weather is just a little more complex.

To prepare the community for colder weather and freezing temperatures, I start by reviewing the provider contracts, so I can make everyone aware of the expectations, including when we will need supporting assistance in keeping the sidewalks and entrances cleared and ice free. I create a mobile ice station for each entrance that consists of a five-gallon bucket of ice melt, handheld spreader or scoop, and a snow shovel. This way, whoever opens can clear a quick path and throw down some ice melt to help eliminate any slips, trips, or falls.

Any steps taken towards prevention are much better than acting from a state of reaction after an incident. The team needs to know preventative measures to avoid accidents and be able to act themselves, rather than waiting for or expecting someone else to come in to resolve the issue, like snow covered walkways or ice buildup. We want our employees, residents, and visitors to be safe when coming and going from our community and eliminate the possibility of injuries.

During the fall, I take inventory of what equipment we have, its condition, and anything in poor condition either fixed or replaced. I create and store the ice stations, placing them once I hear the first weather report of possible bad weather. Everyone is made aware of where they are and their purpose.

No matter how big your house or successful your company, mother nature always seems to creep up on us this time of year. If you get ahead of it and plan for cold weather, you can save big on stress and dollars.