Planning for the Future: Preparing Seniors For An Emergency or Natural Disaster

The year 2021 is already set to be a record-breaking year for natural disasters including record-breaking heat and cold, hurricanes, and torrential flooding. And no matter where you live, according to NOAA  wildfires on the west coast can adversely affect everyone because smoke movement impacts air quality, visibility, and temperatures across the nation.

Emergency Planning for Seniors

For those seniors that have chosen to age in place, now is a good time to plan for future weather or other catastophic events that can strike quickly. Here we will highlight a 3 point plan released by the Red Cross organization on Disaster Preparedness for Seniors.

1. Assemble an emergency kit

One of the benefits of around the clock care for seniors is that these in-home home health aides can help make sure their elderly patients have enough supplies and an emergency kit when a natural disaster strikes. When you plan ahead, you can avoid long lines for medicine, water, and food. Here are some items to consider for an emergency kit and/or to stock during seasons of unpredictable weather:

• Basic Needs - water, food, and personal hygiene (toilet paper, garbage bags)
• Medications - a 7-day supply of medicines along with medical assistance items
• Communication - a cell phone, fresh battery, and a list of all family and emergency contact
• First Aid Kit - include essentials such as gauze, thermometer, cold/hot pack, and antibiotic lotions
• Medical information - medical ID tags, physician contacts, living will, DNR, or any advance directives

During a heightened season of natural disasters, these items should be stored in an easy-to-find place. All caregivers and home health aides should also know where emergency supplies and critical documents are located.

2. Plan for evacuation or escape

Seniors should talk with family members and neighbors about planning for an emergency. The minimal amount of planning should include specific people charged with checking on the senior, either by telephone or in-person. Next, the senior's household should be assessed to determine the best locations to shelter-in-place during a high-wind or extreme flooding event.

Finally, every house member should be aware of the escape plan and the meeting place in case you have to leave the home. Seniors will fare better if they have a plan to escape an emergency, even if that plan is simply to contact the next-door neighbors. Enlist the help of your home health aide to practice an escape drill or emergency contact process every six months to reinforce these life-saving practices.

3. Helping seniors stay informed

For some seniors, a natural disaster can be more threatening because they fail to stay informed of the latest weather forecasts. A live-in home caregiver is the first line of defense for elderly populations that are fragile or suffering from medical conditions such as Alzheimer's or dementia. These companions offer care and support during and after an emergency, which makes family members feel more confident and at ease.

Other ways to help seniors stay informed during natural disasters include listening to NOAA Weather Radio stations or channels, downloading the weather app from your local radio or TV broadcaster, and having a battery-operated weather radio that is specially designed to receive public broadcasts service from the government during emergencies.

For more information on planning for the future with consistent senior care, contact us at Senior Helpers in Salem, OR. We are a premier provider of in-home senior care services including respite care, wellness watch, and 24 hour home care.