Are your seniors properly prepared for a natural disaster?

Natural disasters happen at a moments notice and most times seniors are not prepared for them. Sadly, as seasons change through out the United States, we can expect many disasters such as: hurricanes, tornados, flooding rain and even earthquakes. The best way to survive during these horrific situations is to have a safety plan in place to help you recover and protect yourselves as much as possible from these events. At First Care of New York we want to keep all our seniors safe from such events. Therefore, we have created a simple list of some of the basic necessities that will help you to be prepared for a natural disaster.

Step 1: Make a plan and be sure to rehearse it as often as needed to make sure it works.

Step 2: Set up a personal support network – Designate a person or two to check on you and help you with getting to a shelter (if necessary) or have them help prepare your residence.

Step 3: Get an Emergency Supply kit, which includes items like: non-perishable food, water (one gallon of water per day), a battery-powered or hand-crank radio, extra flashlights and batteries, clothing and sturdy shoes, personal items and sanitary supplies. You may also want to prepare a portable kit and keep it in your car in case you are told to evacuate.

Step 4: Make an emergency health information card and keep a copy of all important documents in an easy to access location to be able to take with you.

And the following list is for people with some form of disability.

• Personal Care Assistance: If you receive care from a home health care agency, find out how the provider will respond in an emergency. Designate backup or alternative providers that you can contact in an emergency.
• For Persons Using a Wheelchair: Prepare for how you will evacuate in an emergency and discuss it with your care providers. If you use a motorized wheelchair, have a manual wheelchair as a backup and notify your provider as to its location.
• For Persons who are blind or visually impaired: Keep an extra cane by your bed. Attach a whistle; in case you need to attract attention. Exercise caution when moving, paths may have become obstructed, flooded or completely destroyed.
• For Persons who are Hearing Impaired: Keep extra batteries for your hearing aids with emergency supplies. Consider storing your hearing aids in a container attached to your nightstand or bedpost, so you can locate them quickly after/during the disaster.
• For persons with Communication Disabilities: Store paper, writing materials, copies of a word or letter board and preprinted key phrases in your emergency kit, your wallet, purse, etc.

At First Care of New York we want everyone to be as safe as possible during any event that may occur. Our highly trained aides would be able to assist you during these events if they are with you.  As always, no matter the weather conditions First Care of New York will be ready and available to provide our services including: Live in Care, Personal Care, Home Health and Companionship during all seasons.  We understand the responsibility of being there for you when you need us most. First Care of New York provides services in the Bronx, Brooklyn, Manhattan and Queens Areas.