Is Your Parent Prepared for an Evacuation?
As a family caregiver, you never want to think about your senior being in a dangerous situation, or facing an emergency.
Unfortunately, emergencies such as severe weather situations do happen, and it is vitally important that you take the time to prepare them, and make readiness a regular part of your care approach with them. Being prepared allows both of you to have greater peace of mind and confidence when facing potential weather emergencies, and also to get through the emergency situation in the best way possible.
Homecare in Warren County VA: Senior Emergency Kit
While there are many ways you can prepare your senior for facing an emergency while in their home, including a packing an emergency kit, preparing their home with weatherization, and posting alert messages to rescue workers, it is also important to prepare for the potential of not being able to weather the storm at home. Depending on where your senior lives and the type of emergencies they may face, evacuation could become a part of an emergency situation. Preparing them for such an evacuation will help to keep them safer, healthier, and calmer if such a situation arises.
Some ways to prepare your parent for an evacuation include:
-Talk to them about why they may need to evacuate their home, especially if they are living with cognitive functioning decline. They might not understand the concept of evacuating, or why it would be important.
-Find the shelters near their home, and contact each to determine which would be most appropriate for your parent. Factors for determining this can include if your parent has a pet or service animal, the proximity of the center to your parent’s home, and the proximity of the shelter to medical facilities.
-Find the routes to each of these evacuation shelters. Be aware that evacuations often involve the use of set routes, and you should never try to deviate from those routes as you could encounter very dangerous situations.
-Find shelters near your home as well in the event you need to evacuate when your parent is with you.
-Identify friends or family in other locations who would be open to providing shelter if the evacuation requires completely leaving the area.
-Ensure your parent’s emergency kit is properly updated and stored somewhere easily accessible to make evacuation easier.
If it seems an evacuation is imminent, consider leaving before an order.
Make a reservation at a hotel or vacation rental outside of the area expected to be impacted, or make plans to stay with friends and family, and leave before the chaos of the ordered evacuation. Don’t wait if there is an order. As soon as the authorities mention the need for an evacuation, leave. This is the best way to ensure safety and avoid as much stress as possible
Starting senior care for your aging parent can be a fantastic way to give you greater confidence and ease your stress as a family caregiver. You want to give your aging parent the highest quality of life they can have, keep them safe and healthy, and fulfill all their needs in the ways that are right for them.
Especially if you are a member of the sandwich generation, live at a distance, or have your own challenges and limitations, however, you may find it difficult to manage all of these needs on your own. A senior home care services provider can step in to fill care gaps, offer companionship and supervision for your senior, and encourage them to maintain a lifestyle that is as active, independent, and meaningful as possible throughout their later years. Not only is this valuable to them, but it also allows you to take a step back, focus on other elements of your life, and still feel confident your parent has what they need.
If you or an aging loved-one are considering hiring Homecare in Warren County, VA, please contact the caring staff at LivinRite Home Care. Call Us Today at (703) 634-9991.
Sources:

- Sustainable Family Caregiving with the Help of Senior Home Care - November 12, 2024
- How Skilled Nursing Helps Improve Communication - October 25, 2024
- Digestive Issues in Seniors and How to Minimize Their Effects - October 10, 2024