Planning for emergencies can feel stressful, but for those taking care of a senior or someone with a disability or serious health condition, having a detailed emergency plan in place is essential. Caring for aging parents or someone with functional limitations and keeping that person safe and healthy in an emergency situation requires a little extra thought and planning. There is no one-size-fits-all plan, as you are the expert in knowing what your specific needs are. Fortunately, there are many available resources to help you figure out what important variables you need to plan around.
One important step is assessing your loved one’s needs and limitations. This information will guide you in setting up your emergency plan. If a loved one lives alone, who will be in contact with them in an emergency situation, and how will they be contacted? Who are the helpers available in an emergency? Putting together a contact list with names and cell numbers for neighbors, extended family members, and caregivers to be posted in a prominent spot at home will be helpful.
A free service that is very effective for seniors or those with disabilities in preparation for an emergency is Smart911. Smart911 allows you to register important information for first responders to know in advance, including medical conditions, communication preferences, allergies, medication lists, emergency contacts, and even the layout of the home. When you call 911, this critical information will be immediately relayed to your first responders. Click here to learn more about enrolling with Smart911.
If your senior has a hearing disability, is there equipment in place that will alert them of an emergency, such as pads that shake or vibrate connected to smoke detectors? If one has a mobility disability, what supplies might be needed if the power goes out? If a motorized wheelchair can’t be charged, having an extra adaptive battery charged and ready will be helpful. Having a manual wheelchair, walker, or cane easily accessible, is recommended. Consider having multiple canes stashed visibly throughout the home for any scenario. If one relies on powered medical equipment, consider purchasing an emergency generator, or do a little research on how you might handle the loss of power at home for several days.
For those with disabilities, a little extra attention in planning must be given to medical equipment and supplies. Having items such as spare hearing aid batteries is important. If incontinence or ostomy supplies are used, keeping an extra week’s supply in stock is mandatory. Keeping a whistle at bedside to help indicate one’s presence to an emergency responder or caregiver in a crisis situation is effective. Keeping a spare pair of eyeglasses is always a smart idea.
It is always recommended to have a disaster kit ready, but for seniors, it is smart to keep that kit in a moveable container on wheels, such as in a large wheeled duffel bag or wheeled backpack. This will make it easier to bring along in an emergency evacuation.
When caring for aging parents access to medications takes on a higher importance in the case of most seniors. Optimally, always having at least seven days worth of medication is a safe bet. If possible, fill prescriptions each month as early as possible, to maximize the amount on hand. Some insurance companies will approve an extra week’s supply for vacations — placing those meds in your disaster kit would be a smart usage, paying attention to expiration dates so that those meds can be rotated into your regular usage before they expire.
In the case of a major disaster, where normal activities are disrupted for significant amounts of time, having an interim medical form as a communication tool for medical providers is important. This document would be kept with a person at all times during displacement or crisis. The government has created a Keep It With You form for such a purpose. It is designed to be photocopied two-sided, so that all the information is available on one piece of paper. The Keep It With You form can be downloaded here.
Putting time and energy into planning for emergencies will ultimately allow for fewer surprises and hopefully less disruption if a crisis should occur. While the needs of seniors and the disabled can make things trickier, there are many resources available to help. If you have concerns about the seniors in your life, please contact us at Eldercare Services. Our Professional Care Managers can provide a complimentary assessment, and arrange the help that is needed. Caring for aging parents or someone with functional limitations can be tough. But, you don’t have to do it alone. We can help.
For additional information about caring for aging parents and helping seniors in an emergency, the American Red Cross provides valuable information, as does the American Public Health Association. Certain states have great materials online about planning for emergencies, so check out some resources from Oregon and Montana.