Steps To Follow While Preparing For Caregiving Emergencies

Senior Care

The role of a caregiver is not an easy one and can involve the responsibility of many things, some of which are medication management, transportation, meal preparation, scheduling, etc. When you are already busy with all these responsibilities, the last thing you want to worry about is what to do when something unexpected happens. Therefore, instead of worrying about it, do whatever you can to be prepared to face the situation. The tips shared below by experts in assisted living and senior care can be helpful.

Contact Town Hall Regarding Special Needs Registry 

If your city or town hall maintains a Special Needs Registry, you need to register your care recipient in it. By registering in the list, the person who is in charge of handling events like responses to a natural disaster will be able to call or send someone to the house to check on the senior person registered to the list. A Special Needs Registry is the main element of emergency preparedness that many people are not aware of. It will be worth a phone call to your city or town hall to enquire if they keep a Specials Needs Registry.

Maintain A Disaster Supply Kit 

The second thing to do is to keep a disaster supply kit. Knowing where to look for essential items and tools can help you to feel in control of the situation. Your basic disaster supply kit should include, water, food (non-perishable food for a minimum of 3 days), flashlight, battery-powered radio, whistle, extra batteries, first aid kit, dust mask, duct tape and plastic sheeting, local maps, and mobile phones with backup battery and chargers.

You may get these items from a dollar store and pack them in a tote with wheels so that they can be transported easily if you have to leave home in a rush. You can mark the expiration date of the foods and medications in front of the tote so that you can ensure new medications and good food and update the kit timely.

Have A Family Communication Plan 

It is recommended to make a Family Emergency Communication plan that can be used to communicate at times of emergency. You may find the details to set up one for your family on the official website of your city. You can set up a family communication plan and review the details quarterly to make sure that nothing has changed. You can make copies of the document that can be put in the wallet of every family member.