Seniors who are living in their own homes need to be ready for emergencies like the power going out. Often when the power goes out it is restored quickly, but after a disaster like a hurricane or a storm if power lines are damaged the power could be out for quite some time. If your senior parent is committed to living independently, they should have in-home care services.
If your mom or dad has in-home care they won’t have to deal with emergencies alone. Having someone in the home will reassure your senior parent that they are going to be ok and give them the support they need during an emergency.
All seniors who are living independently should have an emergency kit ready to go during a weather emergency or power outage. That kit should contain at least five things:
Emergency Lighting
Adequate lighting in the home is crucial during power outages to prevent accidents and ensure safety.
Seniors should have several sources of emergency lighting available like flashlights, LED candles or flameless candles, and headlamps. Battery-operated lanterns are also a good idea. Of course, make sure there are batteries in the kit too.
Stay away from regular candles, hurricane lamps, or any kind of oil-based lamp because those could easily get knocked over and start a fire.
Backup Power Supplies
Having a reliable source of backup power is essential for maintaining communication, powering medical devices, and keeping essential appliances running. A generator is the best thing to have, but only if your senior parent has in-home care. Your mom or dad may not be strong enough to get out of the house to start and run the generator, so they will need help if they have a generator.
Another option is a battery-operated power bank. Power banks are easy to get at any home improvement store or big box retailer and they can power medical equipment, refrigerators, and air conditioners if necessary. Solar-powered phone charges and solar batteries are also good to have.
Essential Medications and Medical Supplies
Seniors should have an emergency supply of their medications and medical necessities to last at least a week. It’s also a good idea to keep a current list of all their medications on paper in case their phone or tablet isn’t charged and they need to access a list of their current medications.
Non-Perishable Food and Water
Seniors, who get dehydrated quickly, can’t go very long without water or food. Put a supply of bottled water with your mom or dad’s emergency supplies. Include some protein bars and other snacks as well so that your senior parent will always have access to food and water during an emergency.
Communication Devices
Cell phones may run out of power quickly when they are being used in an emergency. Your mom or dad should have a battery-powered or hand-crank radio so they can hear the weather forecast and news updates. You may also want to use walkie-talkies to communicate with them in case cell service isn’t available.
If you or an aging loved one are considering In-Home Care Services in Elizabeth NJ, please contact the caring staff at Helping Hands Homecare today. Call (908) 418-4299
Helping Hands Homecare provides Senior Home Care Services throughout Northern and Central New Jersey, including Clark, Westfield, Cranford, Scotch Plains, Rahway, Linden, Summit, Edison, Elizabeth, Mountainside, Short Hills, Millburn, New Providence, Berkeley Heights, Kenilworth, Chatham, Madison, Metuchen, and surrounding areas.
After graduating from Seton Hall University with a BS in finance Helping Hands Homecare’s Owner / President, Robert D’Arienzo, went to work on Wall St. for six years. However, after Robert’s grandmother became ill with stomach cancer Robert and his family needed to find assistance in the home for her. After many trials and tribulations Robert could see that there was a great need for quality home care services here in NJ and loved the idea of being able to assist other families who were going through what his family went through with his beloved grandmother.
Thus, Robert had found his passion. After almost a year of preparation Robert opened Helping Hands Homecare in 2003. Robert wanted Helping Hands Homecare to focus on providing the highest quality of caregivers, exceptional customer service, and providing a service that familys could depend on in their time of need. Since then Helping Hands has assisted hundreds of individuals with the simplest of needs to more complex cases while preserving those standards set out many years ago.
Robert is a Google Verified Author
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