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Senior Living

Hurricane season is upon us, and the recent devastation brought to the Southeast by Hurricane Helene is a reminder that emergency planning for older adults is critical.

Having an evacuation plan in place in case of a disaster is critical for older adults who have mobility issues or are medically fragile. Planning is especially important if an older adult does not live near friends or family. Every state has a State Emergency Response Commission (SERC), and local governments have emergency management services. These agencies, along with Springpoint at Home’s Aging Life Care Advisors™/Care Managers, can help create such a plan.

If you needed to leave your home, where would you go?

Evacuation to a safe zone means that you know of hotels on higher ground that have handicapped rooms and will take a pet, or you know of family or friends in another state who can accommodate your older adult and any pets they might bring.

Planning includes taking the necessary medical equipment, medicine, important documents (for the individual and pet, if applicable), any technological devices, and a “Go Bag” for each person/pet traveling to a safe zone. Photos of documents can be kept on a phone and hard copies sent to families identified as the safe zone. Here is an example from FEMA of what should be included in a Go Bag.

Making plans for a pet may seem like a bit much, but many older adults have refused to evacuate because they would have to leave their pets behind. A “Go Bag” for a pet should include documentation for rabies, license and microchip number, medication, food, water (and bowls), treats, a toy, and a recent photo. The pet, especially a dog, should have a collar with tags and a short leash.

If you decide to shelter in place, what do you need?

Each person and animal needs to have enough food, water, medication, clothes, and supplies for at least 72 hours. In addition, always have a “Go Bag” ready in case you need to evacuate to a shelter. Here is an example from FEMA of what should be included if the decision is to shelter in place.

Shelters cannot take pets unless they are a service dog. They have limited supplies like wheelchairs and oxygen, so your plan should include these items, along with your “Go Bag” items.

What if someone is medically fragile?

If your older adult is medically fragile, the plan to move to a safe zone is the better option. A home or shelter that is flooded will make a motorized wheelchair inoperable. Consider getting a manual wheelchair to have on hand, in case your powered wheelchair is inoperable.

Anyone on oxygen therapy should notify their power company ahead of time and let them know so they can prioritize work on the power supply. Is there a battery pack option that can supplement the internal battery? In addition, call your Durable Medical Equipment (DME) supplier and ask how much oxygen in tank form they think you might need in an outage, and then order the extra tanks. They are required to supply oxygen even in a weather emergency.

Having all medical documentation in place is also important. Keep a record of serial and model numbers for all equipment. Have copies of prescriptions, insurance plans, and the doctor’s contact information readily available in case of evacuation.

What programs can help in an emergency?

New Jersey has a program called Register Ready. It is NJ’s special needs registry, which allows residents with disabilities and their families to provide information to emergency response agencies. This information is used for emergency response and planning only.

If you do not live near your older adult, Nixle is a National Alert Message program. Nixle allows you to receive information about the area your older adult is living in. You can sign up for multiple zip codes. Only law enforcement and government agencies can send messages. These messages are real time information. You can text your zip code to 888777 to receive local alerts, or sign up using this link: Nixle.

2-1-1 is a national dialing code that is used to help with basic needs. It is a trusted partner in a state’s emergency response and recovery program.

Planning for an emergency is easy to put off. But here at Springpoint at Home, we understand the importance of this crucial step and are ready to help and put your mind at ease.

To learn more about Springpoint at Home and the help we can provide, please call 844-724-1777.

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