Storm Preparation Advice For The Elderly

In contrast to years past, recent trending has seen an understandable surge in the number of elderly individuals who wish to age in place and stay in homes and neighborhoods that are familiar to them. Whether North or South, the place they call home may be located in climates subject to severe weather conditions, from hurricanes to blizzards. As individuals age, unfortunately, so may their isolation. Even if your aging loved ones live alone, there are a number of steps you can take to keep them secure during inclement weather.

Better Safe Than Sorry – First and foremost, assess your elder's ability to stay home in the face of an emergency, such as a super storm or hurricane. If necessary, make arrangements to move them somewhere comfortable and if possible, familiar.

Enlist Eyes and Ears – Nothing takes the place of personal connection and attention. Enroll a trusted neighbor to keep an eye on your loved one in your absence, particularly if there is a storm alert in effect. Make sure they know you will reimburse them for any supplies they purchase or errands they run. Also let the local police precinct or fire department know there is an elderly person at home alone who may need extra help in the event of a power shortage or evacuation.

Stock the Pantry – Make arrangements with a local food delivery service to deliver healthy, low-sodium foods that do not require refrigeration, in case the power goes out. Bottled water is also important. Offer to pay a fee for the delivery person to open bottle tops or other packaging that might prove difficult for an elderly person's hands, particularly if they have arthritis. If your elder gets Meals on Wheels or another food delivery service, find out if they have a contingency plan in place during inclement weather.

Have Medications Delivered – Even the heartiest soul can get nervous and confused during an emergency and if that confusion leads to taking the wrong dosage of an important medication, things can become deadly, fast. Call the local pharmacy and ask if they would be willing to deliver your elder's prescriptions in a medicine dosage container that indicates the days of the week. If they are not able to do so, enlist a neighbor or friend to take on the task.

Put At-Home Safeguards in Place – In order to protect the pipes from bursting or freezing, have someone wrap the interior pipes with foam insulation to ensure that the water keeps flowing freely. Also instruct your elder to leave all of the faucets dripping ever so slightly to avoid freezing and to make sure that doors and windows are well insulated against drafts.

Auto-Pay Bills - Make sure your elder's utility bills are paid in full or on auto pay, in order to avoid disconnect notices that may be harder to rectify during a storm situation. If your elder is on any type of life support or health-related equipment, communicate that to the utility company so their home will be considered a high priority for reconnecting the power if it does goes out.

Arrange for Snow Shoveling – If the local storms typically bring snow, make sure you have a shoveler on standby for the season who is trustworthy and invested in your elder's care. They should be instructed to use salt or gravel on the steps and outside walkways your elder may require using to avoid slippery conditions and must be told to pay careful attention to snow drifts which might clog furnace, water and heating vents around the home, in order to avoid carbon monoxide poisoning. As a back-up, carbon monoxide and fire detectors should, of course, be positioned strategically within the home and armed with fresh batteries.

Supply Flashlights – Please make sure your elder ditches the candles and has powerful, LED flashlights in all rooms, which can be easily found and switched on in the event of a blackout.

Provide Multiple Communication Sources – Make sure both a large-button cell phone and land line telephone are available and accessible and that your elder knows how to keep the phone charged. Telephone lines should also be put on auto pay. Your elder should also have access to a solar or battery-operated radio, in case the power fails.

Provide Back-Up Power – If you don't have to worry about your elder losing electrical power, a lot of the issues that might arise in the event of a storm-related blackout will become completely eliminated. Putting a back-up generator in place will assure that power is not lost, keeping them safe and sound. No manual turn on or off is needed, so the transitions to generator power and then back to utility power will be seamless, requiring no action on their part.

Fun and Companionship Count Too – Find a local teenager or adult living within walking distance who would be willing to stop by for an hour or two during bad weather events to watch a movie or play a board game with your elder. Companionship and shared activity can make even the most difficult days easier to handle.

Corey Whelan is a freelance writer in New York. Her work can be found at Examiner.com.

Learn more by visiting CBS New York's Storm Prep section