In many places, January is when the real winter weather sets in. This means seniors need to be ready to face any big winter storms that might hit. Snow and ice can leave entire areas without power for days. If the power goes out, seniors and their families need to ensure they are safe, warm, and have access to food and medication. According to disaster preparation experts, the best things seniors can do to prepare for winter storms are:
Prepare A Pantry Of Essentials
To prepare your senior loved one for bad weather, clear out a pantry or closet for disaster supplies. A home care provider can help clear out a suitable space. Fill the pantry with easy open soup cans, dried fruit, protein bars and drinks, and other shelf stable foods.
Get water in small individual bottles, rather than large heavy bottles. Don’t forget to include hot chocolate, tea, and instant coffee. Instant soups are also a good thing to get. You should also get large emergency candles with long burn times. Candles can provide light and heat in an emergency. The pantry should also have extra clothes, extra coats, mittens, and hats, and lots of blankets.
Get Extra Medications
If your senior parents need daily medication, then prepare a pill container for a week’s worth of pills for both. Put the pill boxes in the supply pantry with the other emergency supplies. That way, your senior loved ones will have extra medications on hand in case of an emergency.
Don’t Forget Pet Food
If your senior loved ones have pets, don’t forget to keep extra pet food on hand. During a major storm, it won’t be possible to get to the store for more pet food. Put a bag of pet food or some canned food in the emergency pantry, and add extra water for the pets. Put an extra set of pet dishes and some pet beds and blankets in there too. If your senior loved one has a cat or cats or small dogs, put their carriers in the pantry with the emergency supplies.
Fireplace Matches
Finally, it may be difficult for your senior parents to work lighter or strike regular matches to light the candles or to light the fire if they have a wood burning fireplace or wood stove. Put several boxes of fireplace matches in the emergency supply pantry with the other supplies. Fireplace matches are extra long and easy to strike, so there’s a better chance that your senior loved ones can use them safely, even if they have poor grip strength.
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