Questions and Answers
Q. My parents aren’t going to Florida this year due to health issues and my siblings and I all live a few hours from them. What can we do to make sure they are safe during winter weather or power outages?
A. One of the best resources I have found for planning for emergencies is www.ready.gov which recommends three steps for emergency preparedness: 1) Get/Create a Kit; 2) Make a Plan; and 3) Stay Informed.
An Emergency Kit should contain items necessary for someone’s individual needs and it is recommended that it contain supplies to survive on your own for at least three days. This would include water, non-perishable food, a can opener, flashlight with extra batteries, first aid supplies, a battery-operated or hand-crank radio, and a whistle to signal for help. Other items could include an area map, emergency contact information, extra medications that might be needed, plastic sheeting and duct tape for sheltering, and extra food and water supplies for pets.
A survey of older adults published by Cambridge University Press in June 2020 states that “living alone was associated with lower odds of having a seven-day supply of food and water, a stocked emergency kit and having had conversations with family or friends about evacuation.”
An Emergency Plan offers options and alternatives to your daily routine. It should include a plan of communication with family which might involve a phone or email chain, taking into account power or phones might be down for some time. An Emergency Plan also includes creating a personal support network. In the case of older adults without family nearby, that means making a list of local friends and neighbors the older adults can contact in an emergency as well as family members can call these people to get information to and from the older adults in an emergency.
Specific to winter weather, Ready.Gov suggests the following:
- Know what to do before, during, and after a winter storm.
- Listen to local officials.
- Have emergency supplies in place at home, at work, and in the car.
- Stay off the road during and after a winter storm.
- Have a carbon monoxide alarm in place, especially if using alternative heating devices.
- Use safe heating devices.
For more ideas and checklists, you can go to the www.ready.gov website. Additionally, every county has a division of Emergency Management, often within the Sheriff’s Department. Contact your county’s Emergency Management division to learn about specific local resources and sign up for alert programs to stay informed in your local area.
If you believe your parents could benefit from some additional help in the home, you could explore local resources through Eldercare Locator at https://eldercare.acl.gov, or call our Info Line for Aging and Disability at 1-800-654-2810.
Remember Medicare Open Enrollment!
Medicare Open Enrollment is happening now until December 7, 2022. In most cases this is the only time you can pick a new Medicare Advantage or Part D plan. Changes you make during Fall Open Enrollment will take effect January 1, 2023. As always, Region IV Area Agency on Aging (RIVAAA) and the Michigan Medicare/Medicaid Assistance Program (MMAP) are here to help! Don’t miss this important opportunity to make the most of your Medicare coverage.
Contact a certified MMAP Counselor: 1-800-803-7174; info@areaagencyonaging.org