Tips on Emergency Preparedness for Seniors

An emergency doesn’t come knocking at our door. So, you always need to be prepared for it. The emergency kit usually comprises first aid supplies, basic medicines, dry food items that will not perish easily, drinking water, a torch, and batteries.  But,  for your  senior loved ones  you have to make some extra preparations for emergencies

The world can experience natural disasters like earthquakes, hurricanes, cyclones, wildfires, floods, droughts, landslides, and snowstorms as well as man-made disasters like wars at any time. So we should properly plan and prepare ourselves well to ensure our safety.

Today, let us focus on some tips for emergency preparedness for seniors to keep them feel comfortable and relaxed during any emergency.

⇒  If your senior loved one uses sticks or wheelchairs for moving make a detailed plan of how you can help them to evacuate the home during an emergency. If your beloved senior uses an automatic wheelchair, keep a backup manual wheelchair.

⇒  You may have to live in an emergency shelter due to war or natural disasters like floods, cyclones make sure to carry the medical equipment with you that your senior loved ones use like blood pressure monitors, glucometers, oximeters, walkers, wheelchairs, CPAP  devices ( for sleep apnea )and other equipment your beloved seniors require to remain healthy. 

⇒  If your senior loved ones use glasses make sure they carry a spare one with them. Ensure your beloved seniors move with caution during or after an emergency as items in the homes may have been shifted or paths may have been obstructed due to a sudden earthquake. Senior loved ones who are hearing impaired should keep extra batteries for their hearing aid. Ensure the hearing aids are kept in a container in a designated space when not in use so that your senior loved ones can locate them easily during an emergency.

⇒  Make sure you stock up on soaps, shampoos, sanitizers, creams, ointment, wet wipes, toilet papers, adult diapers, pads, tissues, catheters, gloves, and supplies like waist belts, barrier cream to help them maintain their health and hygiene during and after emergencies. Last but not least, don’t forget garbage bags, disinfectant sprays, face masks, and wipes. Ensure your senior loved ones take their prescribed medicines daily to maintain their health. It is better if you can obtain an extra 1 or 2 month’s supply of all their medications to help your loved ones stick to their regimen even during an emergency.

⇒  Keep Identification documents like passports, pan cards, Aadhar Card, Driver’s Licenses, and health documents of yours and your senior loved ones handy in a folder. Other important papers to include in this folder are copies of power of attorney documents, important bank documents, prescriptions, health insurance or media claims documents, etc.

⇒  Your family and friends may not be together when a disaster strikes so make a plan for how you can contact them or meet them at a safe place if traveling is allowed. Make a list of important phone numbers of family, friends, local shelters, doctors, elder care service providers, and professional caregivers (if your senior loved ones are under the care of a professional caregiver) to include in your emergency folder.

⇒  If your beloved seniors live in a senior living home, ensure that they have a dedicated disaster management team of their own who are very well prepared for evacuating seniors to safety if needed during any disaster or calamities. Also, don’t forget to have a backup plan ready to help you act quickly during emergencies.

⇒  Last but not least, If your beloved senior has Alzheimer’s or other forms of dementia explain the situation. Provide them direction patiently. A well-devised emergency plan and maintaining an emergency kit for your senior loved ones will ensure that you and your family are well prepared for emergencies and help you to feel relaxed and confident.

This blog focuses on how to prepare for emergencies to help our seniors as well as us to remain calm and relaxed during emergencies.