How to Keep Nursing Home Residents Safe All Winter
As a seasoned New Englander, you know the winters here are unpredictable, long, and often severe. It can be an inconvenience to homeowners to clear snow from their driveways and walkways. But the issue is even more challenging for property managers overseeing nursing homes, senior living communities, apartment complexes, and HOAs.
Heavy snowfall, icy walkways, and rapidly changing weather patterns can make routine property management much more complex. On top of the inconvenience, though, snow and ice accumulation can create serious safety and liability challenges if left unchecked. That’s why hiring a trusted local contractor for commercial snow plowing in Woburn and the surrounding areas is so important.
Properties that care for seniors or house large numbers of residents face higher risks during winter weather, from falls and mobility challenges to blocked emergency lanes and inaccessible parking areas. If you’re not on top of these issues, they can quickly escalate into safety hazards and costly liability claims. More than just basic plowing, effective snow removal practices for nursing homes and apartment communities involve proactive planning and partnership with a Woburn-area contractor who understands the unique needs of private residential properties. From fast response times to consistent communication throughout every storm, here’s how you can keep residents safe all winter long with regular snow removal for nursing homes and apartment communities.
Risks of Poor Snow and Ice Management
Winter weather creates risk for residential care facilities and multi-unit housing communities, especially when snow and ice are not managed proactively. From slips and falls to lawsuit exposure, here’s a look at some of the risks of poor snow and ice management, and how regular commercial snow plowing in Woburn helps prevent these issues.
Commercial snow plowing in Woburn can:
· Protect nursing home residents from slips, falls, and serious injuries: Aging or mobility-challenged residents are especially vulnerable to winter conditions. Even a thin layer of ice on a walkway, ramp, or parking lot poses a higher risk of a fall for seniors suffering from limited strength, balance, or mobility. Falls can lead to fractures, which can then lead to hospital stays and long-term complications. Timely snow and ice removal from a snow removal expert in Massachusetts is necessary for preventing these avoidable injuries.
· Guard Against Liability and Lawsuit Exposure: As a property manager, you can’t ignore the significant financial risks and liabilities associated with poor winter maintenance. The National Council on Aging reports that 14 million (1 in 4 Americans) over the age of 65 fall each year. Did you know that slip-and-fall claims involving seniors are among the most expensive types of liability cases? They often result in substantial settlements or insurance increases – costs you don’t need, not to mention the damage to your reputation. To protect your business and property against the high costs of litigation, be sure to keep clear records of snow removal activity.
· Ensure Emergency Access: With any care-focused property, uninterrupted access for emergency services such as ambulances, visiting nurses, caregivers, fire crews, and supply vehicles is critical. This access must be maintained 24/7, no matter what the weather is doing outside. Poor plowing can slow or block emergency response, delay essential medications or equipment, and put residents at unnecessary risk. Commercial snow plowing in Woburn can ensure that driveways, fire lanes, loading areas, and main entrances remain accessible throughout a storm.
Why Private Snow Contracts Outperform City Services
During a storm, you may assume the city plows will be out all day and night, clearing the roads. This is true in many respects; however, they don’t always get to the most vulnerable properties in a timely manner. This puts snow removal for nursing homes and apartment communities in your hands as a property manager tasked with keeping the property safe. You don’t have the luxury of waiting till the city plows come by.
By choosing private snow removal contracts, you can be assured of the consistency, customization, and reliability that your high-risk residential properties require. Here are some top reasons why hiring private commercial snow plowing in Woburn and the surrounding areas is the better choice.
Guaranteed Snow Plowing Service
City plowing can create gaps in service due to backlogs created by busy municipalities. Large cities like Woburn – home to 45,000 people — take time to clear. The goal of municipal plow crews is to keep public roads open, focusing on major routes, secondary streets, and essential public infrastructure. It could be hours before they make it to private properties such as nursing homes and apartment communities.
Private snow contracts, on the other hand, give you peace of mind knowing you will get guaranteed service on a schedule. Not only do private plows clear the areas that matter most, such as handicap ramps and parking lots, but they also stay on top of the situation throughout the duration of the storm for the safety of residents and staff. From pre-storm communication to post-storm cleanup, you can be assured of timely service from private contractors without having to wait around for the city to get to you.
Customized Snow Removal Attention for Nursing Homes
Nursing homes, senior living communities, and multi-building apartments need much more than just simple road clearing. Due to vulnerable residents, high foot-traffic volumes, and 24/7 operations, these facilities require attention to detail for areas that the city doesn’t have time for. These areas include:
· Wheelchair ramps
· Accessible parking spaces
· Loading zones
· Medication delivery areas
· Staff entrances
· Resident drop-off points
· Interior roads
Private contractors provide customized attention to your facility. Not only do they plan routes around emergency lanes, but they also identify high-risk zones and assign crews familiar with the layout before the first flakes fly.
Qualities of a Reliable Commercial Snow Removal Partner
When it comes to snow removal for nursing homes and apartment communities, you want to partner with a dependable snow contractor that boasts the equipment, speed, and communication to keep your nursing homes, senior communities, apartments, and HOAs safe in winter.
Your private contractor should have:
· Professional-grade plow trucks, skid steers, loaders, and sidewalk crews to clear large properties quickly and relocate snow piles.
· Fast response times with crews who monitor storms in real time and maintain conditions before, during, and after snowfall. Clear communication policies and proof of the service performed.
FRG Contractor Specializes in Snow Removal for Private Properties
While FRG Contractor does handle snow plowing for the city of Newton, we focus our main efforts on private clients, such as nursing homes, senior living communities, apartment complexes, and HOAs. As a result, you get access to dedicated crews, faster response times, and consistently higher service quality. We understand the unique needs of your facilities and can prioritize ADA pathways, emergency access, and high-foot-traffic areas.
With pre-season site mapping, assigned routes, and overnight monitoring for refreezing, the local pros at FRG ensure every property stays safe and accessible throughout the winter.
Schedule Commercial Snow Plowing in Woburn and Surrounding Areas With FRG Today
Before the winter really gets underway, it’s time to partner with a private snow removal contractor who prioritizes safety, reliability, and liability reduction. With timely service and top-notch communication, we can help you prevent accidents, protect residents, and reduce risk. Request a commercial snow plowing quote at (781) 851-4202.