Disclaimer: Under Florida law, e-mail addresses are public records. If you do not want your e-mail address released in response to a public-records request, do
not send electronic mail to this entity. Instead, contact this office by phone or in writing.
7530 Little Road
New Port Richey , FL 34654
Office 727-847-8959  
Fax 727-847-8004
Definition of a Special Needs Person

  • A person with special needs is defined as a person who during
    periods of evacuation, either mandatory or voluntary, will require
    assistance that exceeds the basic level of care provided at the general
    population shelter but will not require the level of skilled medical care
    provided at institutional facilities.

  • Criteria for Special Needs Shelter client may include, but not limited to:

  1. A person with a stable medical condition that requires periodic
    observation, assessment, and maintenance (i.e. glucose readings,
    vital signs, ostomy care, urinary catheter)
  2. A person requiring periodic wound care assistance (i.e. dressing
    changes).  
  3. A person with limitations that requires assistance with activities of
    daily living
  4. A person requiring and needing assistance with oral, subcutaneous
    or intramuscular injectable, or topical medication
  5. A person requiring minimal assistance with ambulation, position
    change and transfer (i.e. able to move more than 100 feet with or
    without an assistive device)
  6. A person requiring oxygen that can be manually supplied
  7. A person medically dependent on uninterrupted electricity for
    therapies including but not limited to oxygen, nebulizer, and feeding
    tubes.  Ventilator dependent persons and persons with multiple
    special needs requiring a higher level of care, may need to be
    referred to a skilled medical facility
  8. A person with mental or cognitive limitations requiring assistance
    who is accompanied by an appropriate fulltime caregiver for the
    duration of their stay in the shelter
  9. A person requiring fulltime care who is accompanied by an
    appropriate fulltime caregiver for the duration of their stay in the
    shelter
  10. A person whose weight does not exceed the safety weight
    restrictions of provided cots.  
  11. A person who can be safely transferred and does not require
    specialty lifting or transferring equipment.  A person requiring a
    stretcher to be transported may need to be referred to a skilled
    medical facility

  • Every reasonable effort should be made to avoid admitting clients with
    known infectious conditions or those who require isolation, i.e.
    Methicillin Resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) or persons who
    require respiratory isolation such as infectious Tuberculosis (TB).