Remember to Cater to the Unique Needs of Seniors When A Storm Strikes
People’s Trust has created a great family guide for hurricane preparedness, but there are some general storm and safety tips seniors and their caregivers should take when preparing for any disaster.
While People’s Trust recommends you create an emergency supply kit, there are many items seniors need for daily living that can’t be packed away. We suggest you create a common space to store these items so they are always close by when an emergency happens.
Stay safe during a storm, People’s Trust will be there to help you recover afterward.
Medication Concerns
As we age we tend to rely on more medications for our daily lives. Don’t be embarrassed by this and make a concerted effort to discuss your medications with your doctor.
When preparing for an emergency you should discuss senior safety options to get additional supplies and get clear dosage instructions from your doctor. Make copies of this information and keep it with your emergency supply kit.
You’ll also want to gather information on your doctor, medicines and pharmacy. All of these contacts and labels should be kept with your kit. With this information, you’re sure to take the proper amount of your medication and you can be assisted by any emergency personnel that may come to your home during or after a storm has hit.
Your Additional Items
The main special concern for seniors is access to the extra items they may need to get around or interact with the world around them. For any of these items, it’s best to have a duplicate if possible. We understand that seniors are often on a fixed income, so if you can only have one set, please keep it within reach.
The top items seniors may need include:
- Eyeglasses
- Hearing aids
- Batteries for hearing aids
- Wheelchair batteries or tools
- Oxygen tanks and masks
- Copies of Medicare and Medicaid cards
Don’t forget having another set of IDs, tags, records and emergency supplies for service animals. Senior safety tips should apply to everything and everyone who can help you stay safe.
If you or a senior family member is living alone, try to put your emergency kit in a location that’s easy to access and in a central room of your home. If you plan to shelter-in-place, keep your supplies in this location so there’s no concern with moving heavy boxes or clearing space.
Also keep it in a well-lit area to avoid slips and falls.
Build Your Support Network
Seniors and other vulnerable citizens need family, friends and neighbors as a support network to help them in case of an emergency. These are people you trust to check on you and provide assistance if there is any disaster.
Share your plans for an emergency with this group and take special care to mention how you plan to stay or evacuate. Give contact information for you and your doctors to each person in your network so you can be found after the storm or cared for properly if injured.
If you use a wheelchair, oxygen, or other medical equipment, show your network how to use it. This may just save your life.
Don’t forget to give a key at least one trust member of your network.
If you plan to evacuate with someone in this network, make sure you get a copy of their evacuation plans written down. You’ll want multiple phone numbers and contact information plus meeting places so you can evacuate safely.
Even with this network, seniors should still adhere to common guidelines for hurricane preparedness and safety.
This Blog is sponsored by:
People’s Trust Insurance Company