All seniors aging in place need to be prepared to go without power or survive in an emergency. Extreme weather is making power outages, water accessibility, storms, fires, and floods more common. Seniors with Alzheimer’s are even more vulnerable than other seniors to the risk of illness or injury caused by extreme weather.
If you can’t get to your senior parent because of a flood, downed trees, or other extreme weather, you need to make sure your senior loved one with Alzheimer’s is prepared to get through any emergency situation.
Who Will Take Care Of Your Senior Parent?
Creating an emergency plan for a senior parent with Alzheimer’s can be difficult, but if an emergency were to happen, you will be glad to have a detailed plan in place. The most important part of the plan is who will be there to take care of your senior parent. They will probably be scared, and someone will need to be with them to ensure they don’t wander off, get into a dangerous situation, or get hurt.
If getting to your senior parent in an emergency has you worried, Alzheimer’s care is a good thing to have. If your senior loved one receives Alzheimer’s care, then someone they know and trust can help them during an emergency. Alzheimer’s Care is available 24 hours a day, so your senior parent doesn’t have to be alone.
An Emergency Or Disaster Kit
When you are creating an emergency kit to keep on hand for a senior parent with Alzheimer’s you should include things like:
- A few changes of clothes, pajamas, underwear, and lots of clean socks. It’s also smart to put in a few pairs of shoes.
- A jacket, a raincoat, and rain boots.
- A bag with extra soap, deodorant, toothpaste, a senior-friendly toothbrush with an easy grip handle, denture cleaner and case if your senior loved one has dentures, and shampoo and conditioner.
- A bag with at least a week’s worth of their medications.
- Copies of their ID, insurance cards, and other important documents in plastic sleeves in a protective binder. A waterproof and fireproof lockbox should contain all important documents.
- At least five days’ worth of water and food. Protein shakes and bars are ideal for an emergency, so make sure there are plenty in the kit.
- Pet supplies if your senior loved one has pets.
- An extra pair of eyeglasses and sunglasses.
- Batteries, flashlights, and phone chargers.
- A first aid kit with elastic braces and bandages.
- An extra cane or walker if your senior loved one needs a cane or walker.
You can customize the emergency kit to include other supplies that your senior parent might need in an emergency. It’s also a good idea to make a wristband. It should have your senior loved one’s name, address, and your phone number.