For older adults, being prepared for an emergency can come with unique challenges. Changes in mobility, hearing, or vision can make it harder to respond quickly, while living alone or without nearby support can add another layer of difficulty.
At Venango House, a 106-apartment senior community in North Philadelphia, those challenges are especially important to Arnita DeShields, Senior Community Coordinator.
“The more a senior is prepared, the more equipped they can be to respond when a crisis comes,” DeShields said. “You want them to be proactive instead of reactive.”
That belief led DeShields to bring United Way of Greater Philadelphia and Southern New Jersey's United We Prepare initiative to Venango House for a fire safety and emergency preparedness workshop.
Turning Experience into Preparation
Emergency preparedness has particular meaning at Venango House. In 2024, a fire caused by an overloaded electrical outlet forced residents to evacuate the building. No one was injured, but the experience underscored how quickly an everyday situation can become an emergency.
When DeShields joined Venango House in April 2026, she learned about the fire and saw an opportunity to make preparedness a priority.
“For me, education and prevention are important,” she said. “I'd rather be proactive than wait for another crisis like that to happen.”
Through her role, DeShields connects residents with resources that support their health, safety and independence, from help accessing caregivers and managing utilities to workshops on wellness, grief, medication management and community safety.
The work is personal for her, too. DeShields grew up in North Philadelphia, and her late grandmother once lived at Venango House.
“I always wanted to give back to a neighborhood that I grew up in,” she said. “So this was my opportunity to do so.”
Bringing Preparedness Directly to Residents
Through United We Prepare, residents participated in a workshop focused on practical steps they can take before an emergency happens.
The conversation covered fire prevention, emergency planning, important documents to keep accessible and what residents should do when an alarm sounds. Participants also received emergency preparedness kits with tools such as flashlights, fire blankets, masks and other basic supplies.
For DeShields, having both information and tangible resources made the workshop especially valuable.
“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 were active participants throughout the workshop, asking questions and sharing their own experiences. Some who attended even asked whether additional kits could be made available for neighbors who had missed the session.
“There was a sense of appreciation and gratitude for what was shared with them,” DeShields said.
Preparedness Builds Confidence
United We Prepare is designed to make emergency preparedness practical and accessible by bringing information, resources and workshops directly into communities.
That approach is particularly important for older adults, DeShields said. Some residents may need additional assistance during an emergency because of mobility or health needs. Others may be reluctant to ask for help after decades of living independently.
“Asking for help after many years of living without anybody helping you is another challenge,” she said. “We encourage them to understand that it's okay to ask for help and receive it. It's a form of self-care.”
Preparedness can also help replace uncertainty with confidence.
“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.”
And sometimes, the most important first step is simply knowing what to do.
“Education and awareness help people stay safe,” she said. “You can't do what you don't know.”
Continuing the Conversation
For Venango House, the workshop was not the end of the conversation. DeShields plans to continue reinforcing fire safety with residents, including another drill and additional engagement with the Philadelphia Fire Department.
She also has straightforward advice for other senior communities considering a United We Prepare workshop:
“I would say: schedule it and make it happen.”
By helping residents prepare before an emergency occurs, communities like Venango House are building the knowledge, confidence and connections that can make a critical difference when every second counts.