Emergency Preparedness for Elderly Checklist. It is very important to be prepared in case of an emergency of disaster, especially for elderly people. This way, you can avoid being stuck without necessary items. Keep reading for our emergency preparedness checklist for elderly.
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One of the most important things for emergency planning is always to have important documents organized and healthcare instructions documented. Try using the AARP Checklist for Financial Plans and Final Wishes to help you get organized.
Emergency Preparedness Checklist
Consider putting together a disaster kit that might contain approximately 3-5 days worth of the following items:
- Water- 1 gallon per person in your household, per day
- Canned/Packaged Foods that don’t require cooking
- Flashlights with extra batteries and bulbs
- Hand crank radio
- First Aid Kit
- Person Hygiene items (soap, toilet paper, toothpaste)
- Pocketknife
- Lighters and matches
- Copies of personal documents, living wills, DNR, etc
- Medication list and if possible about 1 week supply of all medications
- Extra battery/charger for cell phone
- Some Cash
- Pet Supplies
- Emergency thermal blanket
- Map(s)
- Manual can opener
- Thermal underwear
- Extra Bedding and/or sleeping bag
- Sunscreen
- Extra sets of keys
- Whistle and/or other distress signal device
Have an emergency plan
Inquire into the emergency plans and procedures that exist in your community. Know about your community’s response and evacuation and make arrangements for your transportation if you cannot transport yourself. If you receive elder in home care, speak with the Agency’s management to find out how they can help with your plan. Once your plan is in place, be sure to practice it at least twice a year to make sure it is manageable and to determine if changes need to be made.
Are there limitations that may affect your ability to evacuate in a disaster? Think about how you can resolve these or other questions and discuss them with your support network.
It is very important to discuss these plans with your family, friends and elder in home caregivers and work together with them to prepare. Especially if you live alone, have a “buddy” who commits to check in on you and vice versa at the time of a disaster or quarantine.
For more information on making a plan for in home senior care READ MORE