Sep 09, 2013

How to Prepare Seniors for Storm Evacuation in CT


When hurricane season strikes, it’s important that all members of your family, especially the elders, are prepared to be safe and secure in the event of an evacuation. Connecticut In Home Assistance is proud to have been chosen by the town of Stratford and other surrounding towns to provide assistance in the event of an emergency, and we’ve compiled some of our best practices for you to stay informed and safe. For more information on our storm procedures, please feel free to contact us and discuss your family’s plan of action today.

Preparing for Storm Evacuation

Extreme storms can be difficult to predict, which is why it’s important to stay prepared, especially during hurricane season. While storms that cause localized flooding on coastlines can happen at any time, it’s extremely important to be fully prepared during the height of hurricane season. People who wait until a storm is brewing don’t have time to collect the supplies they need, and often find that everyone else waited until the last minute and the store shelves are bare. We recommend preparing “bug out” bag to keep somewhere safe, secure, and easily accessible when a storm hits.

Emergency Bag

You should include a variety of essential items in your bag. Make sure to include enough to keep you going for at least two to three days. Consider packing more hard to obtain supplies, like medications and prescriptions in the event that you cannot return home for weeks, or, in a worst case scenario, months. We recommend packing the following items in your bag:

  • Medicine. Pack a 7-day supply of all prescription medications, plus any prescriptions or vital medical and insurance paperwork.
  • Flashlight with fresh, unopened batteries.
  • Cash. The more you can set aside for your emergency supply kit, the better.
  • Extra mobile phone charger.
  • Food. Shelters provide some food, but for those on restricted diets, consider packing Ensure or another doctor recommended supplement to make sure you get the necessary calories and nutrients during times of stress.
  • Bottled Water (at least one case).
  • Pet Supplies. Pack a three day supply of food and have a pet carrier handy. The last thing you want is to get stranded with a storm blowing in because an unsecured pet accidentally causes a fender bender on the road.
  • Extra pair of glasses.
  • Change of clothes (two days at least).
  • Toiletries. Pack all the essentials: toothbrush, toothpaste, hairbrush, soap, shampoo, razors, deodorant, and other necessities. Consider purchasing trial sizes of your favorites to leave in the bag at all times. If you’re worried about spills, place the toiletries in a secure, zippered bag.

 

While it may seem like a lot of work up front, taking the time now to prepare for storm evacuations could save you a lot of time, money, and worry later on.

Elder Care

In addition to preparing a bag for the elderly members of your family, you can also contact Connecticut In-Home Assistance for additional peace of mind. We contact all of our critical clients during a severe storm and ensure that our caregivers can stay for up to 48 hours if needed to handle emergency preparation and evacuation.

Our team streamlines communication during extreme weather. We handle only emergencies during a storm to free up lines of communication and cancel all shift changes for 24 hour periods to maintain consistency of care. Food and medication supplies are assessed and restocked prior to the storm, and we take steps to ensure that patients using oxygen machines have an adequate transportable supply in the event of power loss. In addition, we also identify those who need critical transportation during or after the storm to accommodate dialysis or chemotherapy treatments as needed.

Beyond these basics of taking care of communication, food, and medical treatment, we also remind caregivers and clients to have blankets, flashlights, ice, and some entertainment items such as cards, board games, or puzzles to pass the time in the event of a power outage. Our goal is to provide quality, compassionate in home care, even in the event of an extreme weather emergency.

Share

Related Posts


By CT Homecare 03 Sep, 2021
Krystal returns to talk about loneliness, dementia, and some of the experiences she’s had with some of her patients. Dementia is a difficult condition for both the patient and the family. Patience and companionship are important traits that can help alleviate the situation. Subscribe to our YouTube Channel to see even more videos!
By CT Homecare 06 Aug, 2021
Chelsea talks about loneliness and safety – two of the most important subjects when it comes to care for the elderly. Attention and companionship are needed around the clock, and so being able to empathize with patients is an invaluable skill to have. Chelsea seems to have that skill down, since her patients say she’s awesome! Subscribe to our YouTube […] The post “I treat them as if they were my own parents” – Chelsea Discusses Loneliness & Safety appeared first on .
By CT Homecare 05 Feb, 2021
Learning new skills is one of the best skills to maintain for the elderly, with proven benefits for the brain and the body.
Show More
Share by: