Did you know that September is National Preparedness Month? Being prepared for any type of emergency or natural disaster is important for everyone, but is especially important for seniors. Because each senior’s needs are different, it is essential that each individual have a unique emergency plan that fits all of your needs. If an emergency or disaster occurred today, would you be ready?
So, how can you prepare your loved one for an emergency?
1. Make an emergency kit
This kit should contain basic essentials like food, water, a flashlight, a battery-powered or hand crank radio and a first aid kit. When you are putting together the kit, make sure you think about the resources that your loved one uses on a daily basis and include those things. Since every individual has different needs, it is important that emergency kits are personalized.
2. Have an evacuation plan
The most important part of any evacuation plan is knowing who to contact. Before an emergency or natural disaster happens, make sure that your loved one knows exactly who to contact about getting out. When putting together an evacuation plan, talk the plan through with your loved ones to ensure that they know exactly what will happen.
3. Keep a supply of critical medicines on hand
If your loved one takes medicine or uses a medical treatment daily, it is extremely important that they have a supply of medication(s) available in case of an emergency because they may not have access to a drugstore or hospital. Also, if your loved one uses hearing aids or an electric wheelchair, be sure there are extra charged batteries around at all times.
4. Store valuable documents in easily accessible locations
In the event of an emergency or natural disaster, things will most likely be rushed. To make sure your loved one doesn’t forget anything important, advise them to keep copies of important documents somewhere that will be easily accessible. Important documents to include are:
- Family records
- Wills
- Social security cards
- Bank information
- Tax records
- Medical insurance and Medicare/Medicaid cards
- Contact information for family and loved ones
For seniors, preparedness is essential. Do you have an emergency plan in place for your loved one? If so, we’d love to hear your planning tips!