Helping Seniors Stay Ready

At Venango House, a 106-apartment senior community in North Philadelphia, emergency preparedness is about more than having a plan. It's about helping residents feel ready and supported when a crisis happens.

For Senior Community Coordinator Arnita DeShields, that work is personal.

She grew up in North Philadelphia, and her late grandmother once lived at Venango House. When she joined the community in April 2026, she quickly learned about a fire that had forced residents to evacuate the building two years earlier.

No one was injured, but the experience left a lasting impression.

“Instead of waiting for the fire or disaster to happen, they're prepared before it happens," DeShields said. “They can respond a little more calmly instead of panicking."

Turning Experience into Action

Older adults can face unique challenges during emergencies. Mobility limitations, health concerns, hearing or vision loss, and a lack of nearby support can make it harder to respond quickly when every second counts.

After learning about the 2024 fire, DeShields saw an opportunity to help residents prepare before another emergency occurred.

“For me, education and prevention are important," she said. “I'd rather be proactive than wait for another crisis like that to happen."

That commitment led her to partner with United Way of Greater Philadelphia and Southern New Jersey through United We Prepare, a United Way Worldwide initiative supported by Verizon.

Bringing Preparedness Home

Through United We Prepare, residents participated in a fire safety and emergency preparedness workshop focused on practical steps they can take before a disaster strikes.

The session covered:

• Fire prevention and safety
• Emergency evacuation planning
• Important documents to keep accessible
• What to do when an alarm sounds
• Local resources available during emergencies

Residents also received emergency preparedness kits containing items such as flashlights, fire blankets, masks, and other supplies.

For DeShields, pairing information with hands-on resources made the workshop especially meaningful.

“I think they felt more equipped and empowered," she said. “It wasn't just someone speaking. There was information given to them, as well as tools they could actually use."

Residents actively participated throughout the workshop, asking questions, sharing experiences, and discussing ways to stay safe.

Some attendees even asked whether additional preparedness kits could be provided for neighbors who missed the event.

“There was a sense of appreciation and gratitude for what was shared with them," DeShields said.

The response reinforced what she already believed: preparedness is about more than emergency supplies. It's also about confidence.

For many older adults, asking for help during an emergency can be difficult.

“Asking for help after many years of living without anybody helping you is another challenge," DeShields said. “We encourage them to understand that it's okay to ask for help and receive it. It's a form of self-care."

Looking Ahead

The workshop was not the end of the conversation.

DeShields plans to continue reinforcing fire safety and preparedness at Venango House through additional drills and ongoing engagement with the Philadelphia Fire Department.

Her advice for other senior communities is simple:

“Schedule it and make it happen."

By bringing preparedness education and resources directly to residents, communities like Venango House are helping older adults build the knowledge, confidence, and connections they need before the next emergency occurs.

As DeShields puts it:

“Education and awareness help people stay safe. You can't do what you don't know."