Aging In Place Directory

#70 - Emergency Preparedness for Seniors Living Alone

• Esther C Kane CAPS, C.D.S. • Episode 70

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Emergencies rarely announce themselves, and when you live alone, those first few minutes can set the tone for everything that follows. We walk through a practical, step-by-step approach to staying safe at home—without sacrificing independence. From a simple one-page plan to realistic gear and smart routines, you’ll learn how to feel calm, prepared, and in control when the unexpected hits.

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SPEAKER_00:

Welcome back to the Aging in Place Directory podcast where we talk about practical ways to stay safe, independent, and comfortable as we age, right in our own homes. I'm your host, Robin Schultz, and today we're diving into a topic that might literally save your life: emergency preparedness. Now I know preparing for emergencies isn't nearly as fun as shopping for a new whatever piece of furniture or clothing, or watching an episode of your favorite TV show, but if you're living alone or you know someone who is, being prepared isn't just smart, it's really essential. Whether it's a storm, a power outage, a medical emergency, or even a wildfire, having a plan can mean the difference between panic and peace of mind. So grab a notebook or even your phone because by the end of this episode you'll have a step-by-step plan for how to make your home and yourself ready for almost any situation. Let's start with the big why. Why is emergency preparedness so important for seniors who live alone? When we're younger, it's easier to take quick responses for granted, running downstairs to check a breaker box, calling a neighbor, or even driving to a shelter. But as we age, mobility, vision, and stamina can change. Something as simple as a fall during a power outage or a slippery fur floor, sorry, during a burst pipe emergency, can quickly become serious when no one else is home. And emergencies happen more often than you think. The Red Cross reports that older adults are more likely to be affected by disasters, not because they're less resilient, but because they often face greater challenges with evacuation, accessing medication, or communicating during chaos. So let's get practical. Step number one is building an emergency plan. This doesn't have to be complicated. In fact, a good plan fits right on a single sheet of paper. Here's what it should include. Your emergency contacts. You should list at least three people, a local friend or a neighbor, a family member out of state, and one trusted contact for medical updates. You want to put on there basic health information, a current medication list, allergies, doctors' names, and your preferred hospital. You also want to list escape routes. Note at least two ways to exit your home safely. One might be through a door, the other a window, or a secondary egress, and then list meeting points. If you do need to leave home suddenly, decide where you'll go. Maybe a friend's house, a nearby community center, a shelter, or even a predetermined parking lot nearby. Keep a printed copy on your fridge or in a visible location. At the same time, keep a digital copy saved on your phone under the word or title emergency info. Now, if you have neighbors you trust, tell them where you keep your spare key or ask if they can check on you during bad weather or after power outages. It's not about giving up your independence, it's about ensuring that you're never truly alone in an emergency. In the next segment, we're going to talk about creating a home emergency kit. So let's talk about everyone's favorite prepper item, the emergency kit. Think of your kit as your independence box. It buys you time and safety until help arrives or things return to normal. Here's what your emergency kit should include. A three day supply of non perishable food, things you can eat without cooking like protein bars, canned soups, and fruit cups. A three day supply of water. You should have at least one gallon per person per day, and don't forget about water for your pets. Add that in as well. You should have a battery powered or crank radio excuse me for updates. A flashlight and extra batteries, a first aid kit with medical supplies including extra copies of your prescriptions, personal hygiene items like wipes and hand sanitizer, extra clothing like warm socks and a blanket, and a list of emergency phone numbers including utilities, local shelters, and a power company, your local power company. Now if you use medical devices like an oxygen machine or a CPAP, it's essential to plan for power outages. Some devices have portable battery backups. If yours doesn't, talk to your equipment provider about backup options. A good rule of thumb is to check your kit twice a year, replace expired foods, rotate batteries, and make sure medications are up to date. You can even make it fun. Have a preparedness Saturday twice a year to restock and check items like changing your clocks for daylight savings time. It's a similar principle. Power outages are one of the most common emergencies for people living alone, and let's be honest, they're also one of the most frustrating. The moment the lights flicker off, confusion sets in. Where's the flashlight? Did I charge my phone? How long is this going to last? Here's how to make sure you're ready next time. Charge ahead. Keep your cell phone, tablet, and medical devices fully charged during storm warnings. Have a battery backup or power bank that's fully charged and available. There are models that can charge phones several times and they would make a worthy investment. You want flashlights not candles. Candles are a fire risk. Battery operated lanterns or battery operated candles or tap lights are far safer. Keep your refrigerator closed. A fridge will keep food safe for about four hours, longer if the door stays shut. Stay warm or cool safely. In winter, use blankets and layered clothing rather than small space heaters unless they're rated for indoor use. In summer, hydration is key. Open interior doors for airflow and avoid direct sunlight. If power outages last longer than twenty four hours and you have breathing or difficulties or mobility needs, call your power company's priority service line. Many utilities have special lists that prioritize restoring service to people with medical devices whenever possible. Now let's talk about personal emergencies, the kind that can happen any day of the week, not just during natural disasters. Falls, sudden illness, or dizziness can make it impossible to reach a phone in time. That's why personal emergency alerts, those help button systems, are a smart option for anyone living alone. Modern versions are discrete, wearable as pendants or wristbands, and many connect directly through a cell signal, even if you don't have a landline. Some even detect falls. I would tell you to make sure that if you get one of those you do not get one that is cancelable. We have a friend whose father was seriously injured because he fell in his assisted living apartment, he pressed the emergency help button, nobody responded for the you know a minute or so, and he panicked and pressed it again and canceled the signal. So he ended up laying there for more than four hours until his daughter came and found him. So do not get one with a cancelable signal. You also want to keep a phone in every major room if possible, including the bedroom and the bathroom. And don't hesitate to ask a family member or friend to test your alert system once a month. It builds confidence that it'll work when needed. I would also tell you to keep your cell phone on you, on your person, in a your pocket or in a fanny pack or something. My mother fell and she broke her shoulder. She was not able to get up off the floor in the kitchen and the phone was three feet above her on the counter, but she couldn't reach it. Had no way of calling my dad who was out for a couple of hours, and so she laid there with a broken shoulder for hours till he came back. I know I'm a lot of I have a lot of good news today, don't I? Anyway. If keeping a phone in every major room isn't possible, um you'll want to at least make sure that you have some way to contact somebody. Like I said, keep your personal cell phone on your person. Make sure that emergency responders can enter your home quickly as well. A locked door can delay getting help, so consider installing a lockbox with the spare key and share the access code with trusted people, or install a smart door lock that has remote access options. So let's shift to bigger emergencies, the ones that can impact your entire community. If you live in areas prone to hurricanes, tornadoes, or winter storms, keep an ear out for local alerts. Weather radars can broadcast emergency instructions even if cell networks go down. And make sure you always have a designated safe space in your home, like an interior room that's away from windows. You want to keep sturdy shoes nearby in case you need to walk over debris if you're trying to evacuate. And if you must evacuate, you want to grab your go bag, which includes or should include medications, IDs, credit card, phone, charger, and a spare pair of glasses. If you're going to experience flooding in your area, move electronics and valuables to higher shelves just in case the flooding affects you. Never wade through moving water. Just six inches of moving water can knock you over. So also if you are advised to evacuate, go early. Waiting increases your risk, especially if mobility is limited or transportation options are few. Now let's talk about fires. For house fires, every second matters. Make sure your smoke alarms are working and test them monthly. Keep an extinguisher within reach of the kitchen, but don't risk fighting a large fire by yourself. Instead, get out and call nine one. Create a simple fire evacuation plan and know at least two ways out of your home. Then practice that route annually. Next we're going to talk about communication and information during emergencies. Knowing what's happening during an emergency can calm your fears and guide your decisions. So you want to sign up for local emergency alert systems. Many counties will send texts or voice notifications about weather events, shelter openings, or road closures. You want to keep a battery powered or hand crank radio handy for official news. If you use hearing aids, make sure to keep extra batteries or rechargeable batteries in your go bag. And make sure your neighbors, friends, and relatives know how to reach you. Even a quick check in text during bad weather can make all the difference. And don't forget your furry and feathered family members. Pets rely on us completely in emergencies, so keep a small pet emergency kit as well. Included, bottled water, medications, a leash, copies of vet records, identify pet friendly shelters because not all shelters will allow pets, and identify pet friendly hotels in your area ahead of time. If you have to evacuate, never leave your pets behind thinking you'll come back soon. If conditions worsen, that may be the end of your pet. Alright, let's touch on technology, because there's fantastic tools that can help make emergency preparedness easier than ever. You have smart home devices like Alexa or Google Home that can call emergency contacts if they're set up properly. There's medical ID apps on smartphones that allow first responders to access your health info even on a locked device. There's text message alerts that can reach you faster than phone calls during disasters. If you have vision or hearing impairment, look into getting vibration-based alert systems or visual smoke alarms. Technology can't replace human care, but it can be the bridge that helps you get to safety faster. And even with all the best planning and equipment, one thing still matters the most and that's people. Isolation can quickly undermine safety. So it's invaluable to build what I like to call a care circle. This could be a trusted neighbor who checks in weekly or a friend who texts you during storms, or a church or senior center that adds you to their emergency reach out list. Many local area agencies on aging offer free wellness checks for older adults that are living alone. These programs exist in cities across the US and they're worth looking into as well. Alright, let's talk about reviewing your plan, because an emergency plan only works if it's current. So every six months, check to see are your phone numbers and medical information still correct. Have your medications changed? Are your neighbors or caregivers available? And practice things like fire drills and getting out of your house. It makes it much easier to not panic if there's an issue. Alright. Thank you for joining me. We're at the end of the episode. So thank you for joining me. If you found it helpful, please share the episode with a friend and leave a comment if there is if you have anything to say. Sorry. And as always, we'd like you to stay safe and stay connected and keep living well. Thank you for tuning in. Take care. Bye.

Contributor

Esther C. Kane, CAPS, C.D.S.

Host