Cy-Fair EMS sees 91% increase in calls from assisted living communities

Cypress area firefighters recently reported an increased need for medical staff in senior living homes to decrease the volume of calls received by the emergency medical services system.

Since 2020, the number of calls received from assisted senior living facilities by the Cy-Fair Fire Department has almost doubled, said Ahmad Abodeeb, district chief of EMS-clinical at the Cy-Fair Fire Department.

What’s happening?

According to Cy-Fair Fire Department officials, calls from assisted living facilities increased from 1,383 in 2020 to 2,642 in 2025, an increase of roughly 91%.

Abodeeb said the majority of calls received by the Cy-Fair EMS system are due to falls or patients feeling sick with symptoms such as nausea, vomiting and fevers.

With the majority of calls received from 10 a.m.-3 p.m., Abodeeb said senior living residents are transported to a hospital 90% of the time.

Although Abodeeb said staff at senior living facilities are typically CPR and first aid trained, certifications only require renewal every two years. In addition, while facilities are well equipped with medical equipment such as oxygen tanks, Abodeeb said staff often forget or are not properly trained to utilize the equipment in an event of an emergency.

To be better equipped to handle emergencies and avoid calling paramedics, Abodeeb said staff at senior living facilities should frequently practice mock scenarios and practice CPR and first aid training more frequently.

“If you don't do CPR and manage medical issues, you're just going to forget how to do it, and it doesn't happen as often as we think, so repetitive scenario-based training is the way to go,” Abodeeb said.

In addition, Abodeeb said more telehealth options for senior living facilities would also be beneficial to provide better care for assisted senior living residents.

The action taken

Kalye Rodriguez, Village on the Park Steeplechase marketing director, said when it comes to senior care, health, safety and combating isolation are all factors prioritized at Village on the Park.

Raquel Medina, Windermere Estates Senior Living executive director, said to ensure proper care, the assisted living facility practices continuous staff training, emergency protocols and provides external vendors for medical services.

As the executive director of Windermere Estates Senior Living, Medina said with over 15 years of experience in senior living care she has experience in various departments of the industry.

“I have a very soft heart for this population. Everyone here is my additional mom and dad, and so while I am blessed to still have my parents that are able to live on their own, I'm still overseeing their care,” Medina said. “ I am also taking care and giving to those that don't have their loved ones, ... so it's something that's very near and dear to me, for me to be able to ensure that they are getting quality of life and are treated with dignity and respect.”

Medina said what residents and families value the most when it comes to senior care is the nurse practitioners and physicians that come to the facility to provide all the services they need in-house.

With six years of experience in senior care, Rodriguez said that at Village on the Park, staff prioritizes proactive care, on-site medical services and a 24-hour emergency response.

With services running from independent living to assisted living and memory care, Village on the Park has at least six staff members operating at a time and offers 24/7 care. To further stay proactive, Rodriguez said staff undergoes training that teaches them to recognize when a resident is declining or may be in need of additional care.

“For us, it's all about prevention ... if we realize that a resident is maybe starting to decline, or maybe we're seeing characteristics that are just not really normal for them. We want to be proactive with that mix,” Rodriguez said. “The senior community is so vulnerable as it is, so we want to ensure that they're receiving that consistent care.”

In an event of an emergency, Rodriguez said depending on the situation, staff are trained to call 911 and family members before making the decision to send residents to the hospital. Rodriguez said most emergency cases occur as a result of a fall.

“If they have fallen, we cannot actually pick them up, and that is a safety hazard. ... It could cause more damage,” Rodriguez said.

To combat isolation Rodriguez said Village on the Park offers interactive activities. Even through its independent living services, the facility offers health care services and encourages participation in its regularly held activities.

“The goal is not just to have those health care pieces, but when the residents are able to stay healthy, keep those relationships they have with other residents, maintain their dignity, their routines, and try to be the best versions of themselves,” Rodriguez said.

When it comes to medical emergencies Medina said staff at Windermere Estates Senior Living are provided with continuous training, such as natural disaster drills, transferring residents and specific protocols to follow to avoid accidents such as falls.

With caregivers offering services 24/7 and a medical technician on-site as well as nurse on call 24/7, Medina said Windermere Estates Senior Living offers round the clock care.

While some minor accidents can be handled on-site by asking residents routine questions, Medina said the facility is trained to call 911 if someone's head is hit during a fall or accident or if residents report having a reaction such as trouble breathing.

As the region's senior population continues to grow, EMS officials and assisted living providers agree that expanding preventive care, staff training and telemedicine services could help reduce avoidable emergency calls while allowing residents to receive more care where they live.