Helping Elderly Loved Ones Prepare for Disaster | SERVPRO® of The Lower Shore

3/22/2021 (Permalink)

A growing number of Americans have elderly relatives living in their homes. A recent study found that the number of families has risen by 14% over the past several years.
While many of these families are enjoying the benefits of having a grandparent in the home, adding an elderly family member means you have to keep special considerations in mind when you’re preparing your family to deal with emergencies like severe thunderstorms and other types of natural disasters.
No one likes to think about their home or community being impacted by a natural disaster. But millions of families every year find themselves in that position. That’s why it’s good to be as prepared as you can be for emergencies.
You’ll want to prepare a traditional emergency kit for your family, too. But taking these extra precautions for elderly family members living in your home can help them feel safer and more comfortable during an emergency.
Planning for Emergencies
Here are some tips experts recommend for family members helping an elderly loved one prepare for disaster situations.
Consider his or her unique needs. If your loved one needs a wheelchair, glasses, or other personal care items, they need to be accounted for in your emergency kit. When packing your emergency kit, be sure your loved one has at least a week’s worth of medication available. This will help him or her maintain good health during a disaster.
Locate the appropriate emergency shelters. You’ll want to call ahead and learn where accessible facilities are for your elderly loved one, so that he or she is able to get the care needed in the aftermath of an emergency.
Be sure there’s adequate food and water in your emergency kit. This is important for every single member of your family, but you’ll want to be sure any special dietary needs are met. For example, if your loved one is living with diabetes, you’ll want to be sure he or she has both the medication needed and food that will work for dietary needs.
If a fire, flood or any other cause damage to your home, you can always count on us for restoration assistance. We are available 24⁄7 in the event of an emergency. Contact us at any time to learn more about our restoration services and how we can help you.