How to Prepare a Homebound Loved One for an Emergency

Most of the time, living twenty minutes from Mom feels close. You check in often, drop off groceries and help her out when something comes up. But what would you do if she needed help during a winter storm or other emergency?

Many families don’t think through a moment like that until they’re in it. But sorting it out now, while there’s time to think clearly, means you’ll have a plan in place to keep your loved one safe and comfortable.

Why It’s Different When Someone Is Homebound

An emergency is harder for someone who can’t easily leave the house. Limited mobility can turn something simple, like taking shelter in the basement, into something that isn’t possible without help. Medical equipment that runs on power stops working when the power does. And if roads are closed, someone living alone may go days without anyone checking in.

By planning ahead, you can help keep an emergency from becoming dangerous for your loved one.

Start with a Plan

The best plan is specific to your loved one. Think about how they get around, what equipment they rely on, which medications can’t be missed and who could reach them quickly if you can’t. Write it down and keep a copy in their home, in yours and with anyone else who helps. Include a short list of emergency contacts with more than one way to reach each person. And decide ahead of time who checks in first and how.

Also, call your loved one’s local fire department or county emergency management office. Ask if they keep a list of residents who may need extra help during an emergency and get your loved one added. If your loved one uses powered medical equipment, call the electric company about their critical customer list too.

Build an Emergency Kit

Keep these supplies together in one easy-to-reach spot and check them every few months.

• Medications for at least a week, along with a list of every prescription, dose and schedule
• Medical supplies like wound care materials, incontinence products or diabetic testing supplies
• Physician and pharmacy contact information, written down, in case a phone dies or a hospital needs it
• Shelf-stable food that’s easy to open and doesn’t need cooking, and a manual can opener if any of it comes in cans
• A gallon of water per person per day, for at least three days
• Easy-to-use tools such as a flashlight, a battery-powered radio and a whistle, placed where they can be reached without bending or climbing
• Battery packs and backup power for medical equipment, charged and tested
• Extra batteries and chargers for hearing aids, phones and any other devices your loved one uses daily

Get Ready for a Power Outage

For someone who is homebound, losing power can quickly become a health issue. Find out how long any powered medical equipment can run on a battery and have a backup source that covers at least that long. If your loved one uses oxygen, ask their supplier about backup tanks.

Think through what they’ll need if the heat or air conditioning goes out. Put extra blankets where they can reach them and warm layers in an accessible drawer. For hot weather, figure out which room stays coolest and make sure water is easy to get to.

Also, put flashlights with fresh batteries where they can easily be found in the dark.

Stay Informed and Connected

Sign your loved one up for local emergency alerts through your county and make sure weather notifications are turned on for their phone. A battery-powered weather radio is a good backup if cell service goes down.

Check in with your loved one regularly, at set times, even on ordinary days. When a call at ten every morning is already routine, an unanswered phone can tell you something might be wrong.

Plan for Evacuation, Too

Fires, flooding and extended outages may make leaving the safest choice. Figure out now how they would get out, if they need accessible transportation and how their wheelchair, walker or oxygen would come along. Decide who would drive and have a second person in mind in case the first can’t get there.

Keep a bag packed and ready near the door. Include a few days of medications, copies of insurance cards and ID, their medication list, glasses, hearing aids, a phone charger and a change of clothes. And something familiar, like a favorite blanket or photo, can help to make an unsettling day a little easier.

You Don’t Have to Plan Alone

If you don’t know where to begin, making a few phone calls can help. Your loved one’s doctor can tell you which medications matter most if a few days get disrupted. Their medical equipment supplier knows how long a battery lasts. And if your loved one receives home health care, their nurse can help explain medications, equipment use and how they get around.

Having a home nurse who knows your loved one can make all of this easier. And that’s what we do at Ohioans, along with therapy and hospice care at home. If your family is considering in-home support, contact us today.