For years, my blog has been dedicated to helping people of all ages and walks of life when it comes to being prepared for the unexpected. We set our own priorities in that regard, but sometimes we overlook what life is like for others as they age. I’m updating some older posts because the information needs to be provided often so people can learn what’s needed for them to be prepared.
I decided to update this post again because it’s one of my most popular articles. Here’s the deal, we recently had a death in the family and it reminded me to encourage my readers to make sure they have their affairs in order. That means we need to make sure we have all the estate-related documents available for review, and I have seen expensive boxes with files you can purchase to organize your important documents.
Well, why pay for one, when my special document binder is FREE? If you print the documents on cardstock and use the items I recommend with your Emergency Binder, it’s the very same approach that people are charging big bucks for. Your elderly friends or family members may be hesitant to share their information with you. Okay, I understand.
What they need to understand is the fact if they are gone we need to know where to find all of their important documents. They may die, or become incapacitated. Keep in mind I am not a lawyer but a will or a trust is critical when family is involved.
Table of Contents
Assisted Living or Not
The time will come when we may be living on our own or at a stage where we need to consider assisted living quarters. As I’ve thought about it this week, I know of at least 15 items older people want for survival.
Please remember your family members or friends living alone, or possibly in a care center when considering things needed for survival.
I remember getting an email from a reader a few years ago asking me what her mom should have stored in her apartment at her assisted living facility. We may think our mom, dad, aunt, uncle, or dear friend will be just fine after a disaster if they are living alone close by or at acare center. But if we seriously consider their circ*mstances, we know better.
The employees in a long-term care center can only help so many older adults after a disaster. There will probably be some panic, we expect that, especially with older patients. Let’s get started to help those we love to be prepared BEFORE they need to be. I want you to think about this situation if you haven’t already. What we discuss could be your real-life situation sometime in the future.
15 Items Older People Want For Survival
Let’s say we have a minor disaster, older people sometimes will be unsure of what’s going on around them. Seniors may be scared, so let’s hope they can call you if the power is out, the wind is howling, the snow is heavy, or other issues raise some concern. It doesn’t have to be hurricanes or earthquakes for them to get nervous or need emotional, and physical support.
Hopefully, they remembered to keep their cell phones charged, if they have one.
If they live alone, I hope they have neighbors they can reach out to for help, if needed. If a caring family lives nearby that’s awesome, if the roads still work. We never know what kind of disaster or unforeseen emergency may occur.
Be Careful How Presented
Of course, we don’t want to alarm our older family members, but if something serious does happen, we would want them to have a few items in their home or care facility to help get them through.
Remember, it’s all about peace of mind for them. As I look back, I know my mom was prepared with food and water in her home, even close to the time she passed away.
She taught me well from a very young age to be prepared for whatever may happen. I highly recommend making one of these survival bed pouches for all family members: You can sew them by hand or with a sewing machine.
- King Size Pillowcase
2. Fold and Sew
3. Tuck the unsewn section between your mattress and the box spring.
15 Items for Older People
You don’t need to get all the items on the list today. I recommend getting a few things, starting with water and food right away.
I remember going to visit some older ladies at acare center. The rooms were really nice, not like the olden days when they were not so great and often smelled bad. I would take candy and caramel corn to one particular lady. She loved all things that were sweet. So do I! I would now take a case of water to her if she was still alive.
These items would make a great gift to take to your family the next time you visit them. First of all, their budgets are limited in most cases and theymay be too proud to ask for things like this.
1. Water
As we all know, water is essential for survival and is probably the most important item. Please make sure any containers of water have lids that can be easily opened by the elderly. Man, some of those bottles are so hard to open. I get thirsty just thinking about the water getting shut off. Yikes. The BEST place to buy the BLUE CANS I suggest for all of us is on this website: Brownells
(I’m sorry their website may be down.)
These cans have the best tasting water and they last 50 years. These come in a boxed case and they fit nicely under a bed, in a closet, or on a shelf. Amazon also sells Blue Cans. My daughter saw them at Walmart, so check there to see if they are available.
If the water is turned off because of tainted water or a disaster strikes the pumping station or the main water line, we all still need water. The very minimum is four gallons per person per day for me when you consider drinking for proper hydration, some personal hygiene, and limited laundry efforts like underwear.
I get thirsty just thinking about the water getting shut off. Yikes.
Of course, it’s easier to plan water storage when the elderly are still living at home. You can buy water storage containers of various sizes that may work well. It’s at the care center that the Blue Cans mentioned above would prove to be a Godsend.
2. Food
Food is another of the most critical items, even if they live in a care center because if the roads are damaged or the grocery stores are empty or closed those care centers will be unable to feed the residents after a few days. If you have a loved one living alone they may not even think about having a few shelf-stable non-perishable items in the pantry.
Actually, they may not even have a pantry. If you can take them at least seven days’ worth of food that you know they’ll eat, consider doing it today, not tomorrow. Trust me, you’ll feel so much better knowing they have a few items to eat.
If you can afford 30 days worth of food, that’s even better. Prepackaged items are the best approach. Make sure the food is what they like to eat and can be eaten without needing to be cooked. Have things that provide a high-quality nutritional status level so they can stay as healthy as possible.
Grab some snack packages like tuna and crackers, pretzels and cheese, or other products that are easy to open and serve. Walk down the supermarket aisles and grab a few items that don’t need to be specially prepared. Throw in a can opener too, just giving you the heads up here.
Having sufficient food and water helps them maintain cognitive function, and you certainly don’t want them to experience cognitive decline if at all possible.
3. Flashlights, Solar or Battery
Without proper light, dark surroundings become unsafe for the elderly, and possibly somewhat scary. Just remember to give them extra batteries to store in a safe place. Place the bed pouch indicated above in their bedroom and put the flashlight in it. They will love it, the security of having light at their fingertips is calming and reassuring. OLight Flashlight
You may want to consider some solar flashlights and lanterns. I have several of these that I keep charged up by placing them on a windowsill that faces the sun during the day. I know if/when I need light when the power is out, I can rely on those solar units. Don’t forget hearing aid batteries.
4. Cash and Coins
There is something about having hard cash and coins in your possession. The ATMs and bank lobbies may not be available if the power is out for an extended amount of time. If the person you care about is in a care center, check to see if they have a safe available for use by their tenants.
5. Sanitation Items
Even though there may be an emergency situation outside that most people are concerned about, people still need to be concerned about proper sanitation inside the home or care facility. Consider the best items for your loved ones that will make them feel clean and safe. I’ve listed a few below:
Kirkland Signature Baby Wipes and individually packaged toilet paper (split a case for several families) to store: Georgia-Pacific Envision. Hand sanitizer you can pick up at most stores.
Clean hands will cut down on infections in large groups. If the baby wipes dry out, no worries, just add water to them. They make a great mini-bath for our private areas when needed. Denture repair kits.
6. Whistle
In times of emergency, we all may need to get the attention of others, and this is particularly true of the elderly. If at home alone, having a whistle to attract those looking for survivors, or to let authorities know someone is at home is important. There may be a time when the neighborhood is being canvassed to alert the public it’s time to evacuate, and having the whistle certainly gives the elderly another level of comfort
Even in a care center, the tenants may need to get someone’s attention. This could apply to emergencies outside, or their own time of distress if they fall down in the bathroom, or can’t get the strength to get out of bed. It is a pretty cheap safety tool!
7. First aid kit
Emergencies come in all shapes and sizes. Some could be a major disaster with all the activities expected. Others could be a personal emergency where a knife slips and a finger or hand is injured. A simple band-aid is critical if that is all they need. I think every home and care center room should have some kind of First Aid Kit. It doesn’t have to be a large fancy unit. It just needs those products that are most commonly useful, just in case.
If they have prescription medicine they take on a daily basis, make sure they have sufficient to handle a week or two without access to a pharmacy. If they don’t have one already, get one of those handy pill boxes where each day’s medicines can be stored so the proper amount is taken as prescribed.
8. Cell Phone Charger
If they have a cell phone, this one is the one I have: Portable Cell Phone Charger Boy, we all tend to rely on our cell phones for communication and to stay informed on so many levels. It could be that cell phones don’t work because the cell towers have lost power. At least if they are functional you can keep your cell phone working with the necessary charge.
One thing to consider is if the person still has a car, they can use their car charger in a pinch.
People should consider having other forms of communication, like walkie-talkies. A crank radio is also a handy item to have so you can stay informed about events outside the home or care center and include those weather reports that are helpful.
9. CPAP Charger
This is critical for people who use CPAPs and need oxygen to breathe during the day and/or night. Panic will set in big time if they can’t breathe when the power is shut off for any amount of time. If they have asthma, they need power for a nebulizer. Goal Zero Solar Charger I tested my Goal Zero Solar unit with my son-in-law. It was great to hear in the morning that it had actually run all night.
10. Extra Pair of Glasses/Prescriptions
They need to store an extra pair of prescription glasses in case one pair breaks. Make sure they have at least 30 days, if not 90 days, of their necessary prescriptions, filled, if possible. Yes, I realize Medicare and Supplemental Insurance only cover so much. You may have to pay cash for one extra month of meds if ordering them is possible on their refill schedule.
11. Make a list of Emergency Contact Information
In an emergency, people sometimes get confused and need a sheet of paper with names, addresses, phone numbers, and email addresses of family, friends, doctors, and insurance companies, to name a few. I like to use card stock with my printable:Food Storage Moms Emergency Contact Info Make sure they know where it is filed so they can find it in a hurry. You might even want to post it on their fridge.
12. Make Lists or Copies for Them
Make a list of their prescriptions, the dose, etc. Make copies of their Medicare cards and insurance cards. Make sure they have copies of their important documents like birth certificates, etc. in a binder with printables. Here is my FREE Printable:
I prefer printing it on cardstock, and it’s actually in color if you want to print with a color printer.
FREE Printable: How To Compile My FREE Emergency Binder
In case you missed this post on my FREE Binder content,Critical Documents You Need for Emergencies
- Zippered Binder
- Colored Divider Tabs
- Zippered Binder Pockets
- Horizontal Photo Pages
- Binder Pockets
- Sheet Protectors
13. Buddy System
It may seem strange to add this “item” to our list, but it can make all the difference in an emergency scenario. If they haven’t already established a buddy system, it’s a good idea to officially start one.
Of course, care centers would be checking on the residents, it’s the people living alone I worry about. Before my mother died, she and her best friend had set up a calling system every morning to check on each other.
When my mom didn’t answer the phone one day for several hours her friend contacted our sister Susan who lived in the same city. Susan immediately went over to check on my mom. I lived 450 miles away and I called her every Wednesday.
She died on a Thursday, we wouldn’t haveknown that she had died without her best friend calling daily. This is why it’s critical those elderly living alone have a buddy to check in with every day. Please check on at least one older person in your area as a normal course of everyday things you do. Having a Walker or Wheelchair would help the elderly be more mobile.
14. Fire Extinguisher
They need a good fire extinguisher and they need to be shown how to use it when needed: Kidde FA110 Multi Purpose Fire Extinguisher 1A10BC, 1 Pack
Bonus Items:Add incontinence items, pads, disposable undies… Sad but most older people must use them. And creams to care for rashes and any other over-the-counter items you’ve found to be important to have ready access to.
PORTABLE TOILET: Elderly Toilet If the water is turned off for any reason, having access to a unit that lets you relieve yourself could be a lifesaver. You may want to get one for you and your family too.
15. Shower Handle Grab Bars
Safety in the home is critical. We just purchased this one for our shower. Shower Handle Grab Bars Home safety is often something we all take for granted. The next time you visit an elderly friend or family member, check out their bathroom and make sure it has the safety features you’d want in your home.
Carla mentioned, reading glasses, an emergency denture repair kit, a denture reline kit, heavy gloves, and socks.
Beth suggested, please note that persons with pulmonary issues may not be able to blow a whistle enough to summon help. An air horn can be used with just a press of a button. They can usually be found in either the sporting goods or boating sections in department stores.
Final Word
Give them a bag with wheels (it’s easier for older people) filled with some extra clothing and space to fill items they need to grab and go with if needed. It’s better to be prepared before they need to be.
I would also talk about the geographical areas and the possible situations that could occur where they live. We don’t want to stress them out, but they need to be aware of why we want them to store a few items for an emergency.
If they watch television they can see what is going on all over the world as long as the power stays on. They will be so grateful and sleep better knowing they are prepared for the unexpected. May God bless you for helping a neighbor or loved one gather these 15 items older people want for survival.
With these items needed for survival, you and the elderly you help will truly feel confident that preparations are in place, just in case. May God bless this world, Linda
58 Frugal Pantry Items
Copyright Images:Depositphotos_2300332_m-2015Elderly Couple, Elderly Couple Depositphotos_369918914_S
