What Your Parent Should Bring with Them to an Emergency Shelter
Home Care Services Fort Lauderdale FL
September is National Preparedness Month. This is the ideal opportunity for you to evaluate your aging parent’s needs and make meaningful changes to your nhome care plans to ensure that your senior loved one stays as safe and healthy as possible throughout emergencies such as severe weather and other natural disasters. One situation that is important to prepare for is the possibility that your aging parent will need to evacuate their home prior to the storm. Evacuating helps to ensure that your parent gets out of an area that is at risk of serious damage, helping them to stay safer and more secure during the potentially dangerous situation. In very serious situations your parent’s area might be under a mandatory evacuation order. If this happens, your parent must leave their home and either go to another home, such as yours or that of another member of their care team, or to an emergency shelter. It is important that if your parent must go to an emergency shelter that they know what they should bring and what to expect. This will help them to stay safe, healthy, and secure, and avoid complications.
Some things that your parent should be sure to bring along with them to the emergency shelter include:
• Emergency supplies. Having an emergency kit is an important part of preparing for any type of emergency or disaster. This kit should include several days’ worth of non-perishable food and water, as well as a first aid kit, hygiene and toiletry items, and extra clothing. Store all of these items in a secure, watertight container that is easy to transport so that your parent can bring their own supplies with them to the emergency shelter. This will not only ensure that they know they have what they need, but will also ease strain on the resources of the shelter.
• Personal documents. Be sure that your parent has important documents including identification, contact information for you and other members of their home care services team, insurance information, and the deed to their home. These will provide important information in the event that your parent needs to file an insurance claim or seek medical attention after evacuation.
• Pets. If your aging loved one has pets, make sure that they bring them along with them. They should not leave their animals in a home that is at risk of severe damage due to the storm, or that they may not be able to return to soon. Be aware that they may not be able to bring these animals into the shelter, but that alternative arrangements might be available.
As you are putting preparations into place for your parent, it may be the ideal opportunity for you to think about starting home care services for them. An in-home senior care services provider can be with your parent to help them be aware of impending weather emergencies, make proper preparations, and take necessary steps to stay healthy and safe throughout the situation. Knowing that they are there for your loved one can give you peace of mind that they are safer as they age in place.
If you or an aging loved one are considering Home Care Services in Fort Lauderdale FL to provide companionship, compassion and motivation, please contact the caring staff at Responsive Home Care. Call today 954-486-6440.
