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Committee weighs education and fees as fire responses to senior-living facilities rise
Summary
Hendersonville fire officials told the Public Safety Committee that a small number of senior-living and health-care facilities account for repeated non-transport calls and lift assists; the committee directed staff to educate facilities and return with monitoring data in 6–9 months.
Hendersonville fire officials told the Public Safety Committee that a handful of senior-living and health-care facilities account for a high volume of calls — often non-transport “lift assist” responses — and discussed education and possible fee approaches to reduce repeat demands on fire resources.
Chief Bush said the mayor asked for top-call locations more than a year ago; staff provided the top five addresses, which included four health-care facilities that he said each had about 70-plus calls in the year covered by the report. Chiefs and committee members discussed options ranging from an education campaign to a fee for repeated non-transport calls. Chief Bush and other speakers emphasized they do not want facilities to stop calling in true emergencies.
Committee members asked for a nonpunitive first step. Chief Bush recommended an education and outreach effort to help facilities improve staffing or internal lift procedures, then monitor call volume. Committee members asked staff to return with an update in six to nine months.
No ordinance or fee change was approved at the meeting; the committee directed staff to pursue outreach and to report back with data and recommendations.
