Emergency preparedness for seniors requires special attention due to their unique health conditions, medication requirements, mobility challenges, and the increased likelihood of living alone.
Seniors face particular threats during emergencies like severe weather, extended power outages, sudden medical events, or unexpected home situations. When critical equipment fails or medication access is interrupted, routine situations can quickly escalate into life-threatening emergencies.
This guide provides an emergency preparedness plan with practical steps to take to feel more ready and less panicked. You’ll discover what belongs in an emergency preparedness list, when emergency preparedness drills should be conducted, and how to connect with essential services during crisis situations.
What Is Emergency Preparedness for Seniors?
Seniors are particularly at risk during health emergencies and weather disasters. With this in mind, emergency preparedness for seniors means:
- Making sure health needs are covered (meds, equipment, etc.)
- Planning for communication if phones go out
- Having supplies for staying put or getting out
- Knowing who to call and when
Challenges Adults Face in Emergencies
Emergency preparedness for seniors is crucial, as they face a higher risk of harm during disasters. Here’s why:
- Health and Mobility Issues: Bones and joints weaken with age so older people have mobility issues. It makes it tough for them to evacuate in emergencies and get access to emergency services.
- Communication Barriers: Old age comes with hearing, vision, or cognitive impairments. These shortcomings affect the ability to receive and act on emergency information.
- Social Isolation: Seniors living alone lack immediate support during crises.
7 Steps of Emergency Preparedness For Seniors
Follow these seven steps to remain safe during emergencies:
Step 1: Assess Individual Needs
Before preparing an emergency kit and getting the essential supplies, you need to consider the following checklist.
Medical Conditions
- What health conditions do they have (diabetes, asthma, cardiac issues, or dementia)?
- Do they need daily medications? Make a list of each, including dosage and when it’s taken.
- Do they use medical devices that rely on power, like oxygen machines or CPAPs?
Mobility Issues
- Do they use a cane, walker, or wheelchair?
- Would they need help getting out of the house quickly?
- If they’re hearing or vision impaired, how would they get emergency alerts?
Communication Needs
- Do they have a cell phone they know how to use?
- Do they have a way to leave home if evacuation is needed?
Step 2: Build an Emergency Preparedness Kit
The National Institute on Aging recommends preparing a kit that can sustain an individual for three to seven days whether they stay home or evacuate.
Try to keep this kit in a small, easy-to-carry bag. Keep it near the front door or wherever is most reachable. Here’s what an emergency preparedness list must include:
- For Power Outage: A flashlight, a battery-powered radio, extra batteries for medical devices (hearing aids, pulse oximeters), and manual alternatives if they have an electric wheelchair.
- Medical Supplies: At least a week’s supply of medications, rescue inhalers, or everything that keeps their health in check. Keep a printed list of their medications, dosages, and prescriptions in the go-bag. Also add a first aid kit with bandages, saline, scissors, and pain management drugs.
- Other Essentials: Non-perishable food, bottled water, list of important contacts, and hygiene products (wipes, bladder control pads).
- Cash: Have a sufficient amount of cash for 30 days of essential expenses.
- Important Documents: Identification, insurance information, medical records, and emergency contacts. In case seniors have to evacuate, these documents will speak for them and get them to the right care.
- Comfort Items: Keep their blanket, favorite book, and game in the kit. It’ll give them comfort and safety if they have to spend time in a shelter.
Step 3: Leverage Your Local Resources
Find out the emergency resources in your city and register for them. It includes:
- Special Service Organizations: Seniors who use wheelchairs, and oxygen, or have memory issues may need extra help. If you pre-register with such organizations, they give care, equipment, and free transportation to safety.
- Local Emergency Notification Systems: Fort Worth utilizes several local emergency notification systems, such as CodeRED, the Health Alert Network (HAN), and the Emergency Alert System (EAS). Sign up to these services to get real-time notifications about severe weather (tornadoes, floods, winter storms), evacuation orders, or power outage notices.
- Trusted Neighbors And Friends: The seniors should interact with their trusted neighbors and ask to check on them if something happens. Make sure they know where your emergency kit is and what your medical needs are. Don’t be shy about setting up regular check-ins, especially if bad weather is expected. It’s better to leave a key with a trusted neighbor.
Step 4: Know Your Communication Strategy
There should be a reliable method to receive emergency alerts and communicate with caregivers. This may include:
- A Charged Cell Phone (with emergency contacts saved)
- Keep contacts like “Daughter,” “Doctor,” or “Neighbor” labeled clearly.
- A Landline Phone: Landlines often work even when cell towers don’t. Make sure your parents have this facility to help in case of emergencies.
- Walkie-Talkies: These can be a backup way to communicate if phones go down.
- Medical Alert Devices: These can contact emergency services with the push of a button and some models even detect falls, cardiac arrhythmias, and track location via GPS.
Step 5: Plan for Evacuation
Sometimes, there’s no choice but to leave home. Always be ready for such a situation. Don’t worry, your local helping organizations will safely evacuate you to a place near home.
Step 6: Regular Review and Updates
- Periodic Checks: Review the plan and kit regularly, at least twice a year, to ensure everything is up-to-date.
- Update Information: Keep contact information, medication lists, and emergency plans current.
Step 7: Conduct Emergency Preparedness Drill
When must emergency preparedness drills be conducted? If you live in a senior facility, you are often required to run fire, medical, or evacuation drills on a regular schedule. Sometimes quarterly or twice a year. These drills help staff and residents know what to do in an emergency.
At home, we recommend practicing your plan at least twice a year. Practicing helps things feel familiar, which keeps nerves calm when something happens.
Emergency Preparedness for Seniors: The Role of ER Fort Worth
At ER Services Fort Worth, we understand the unique needs of our senior population. Our facility offers:
- 24/7 Emergency Care: We’re open 24/7, with no appointment needed, no long waits, and no confusing paperwork—just help when you need it most.
- Specialized Geriatric Care: Our staff is trained to handle the specific health concerns of older adults like memory loss, confusion, age-related reactions to medications, etc.
- Coordination with Primary Care Providers: We create a detailed summary of everything that happened: symptoms, diagnosis, test results, medications given, and follow-up instructions. We send it to the patient’s regular doctor. If your doctor has questions about the ER visit, our medical team is ready to answer.
Peace of Mind Starts with a Plan
Distance may separate you from your aging parents, but having an emergency preparedness for seniors gives you relief. And remember, you’re not alone. At ER of Fort Worth, we care deeply about our senior community.
Our emergency room is open 24/7 with fast, compassionate care tailored for seniors. Stay safe. Stay prepared. And know we’ve got your back.
FAQs
1. What if my elderly parent has a pet—how do we include them in the emergency plan?
Pets need to be part of the emergency preparedness plan too. Make sure your parent has a pet emergency kit with food, water, medications, a leash, or a carrier. Include copies of vet records and ID tags. If evacuation is needed, know which shelters or hotels in Fort Worth allow pets, or arrange ahead of time who can take the pet in.
2. How often should we update emergency preparedness for seniors?
Ideally, review the emergency preparedness for seniors every 6 months. Update medication lists, and emergency contacts, and check that supplies aren’t expired. It’s also smart to do a quick run-through before storm season in Fort Worth.
3. What if my parents refuse to talk about emergency planning?
Start small—bring it up during a news story about local floods or power outages. Focus on your concern for their safety, not fear. Offer to help them prepare “just in case,” and frame it as a way to stay independent, not a sign of weakness.
