For many areas of the country, the winter months not only bring colder temperatures and some white fluffy snow, but they can also bring severe weather that may knock out power or strand your aging loved one at home for several days while emergency services work on restoring services and making travel safe. If you don’t live with your elderly loved one (and even if you do), it can be nerve-wracking when meteorologists forecast potentially dangerous weather conditions. Having 24-hour home care services could help them through such unexpected events.
Helping Your Loved One Be Prepared for Inclement Winter Weather
If you live in the right area, you know it’ll hit at some point in the coming months, but you just don’t know when or how severe it’ll be. It could be a foot of snow or an inch of ice, either condition may prevent your loved one from being able to leave the home for a day or two, so making sure she has what she needs at home can ensure she can hunker down safely and wait out the storm.
Preparing an Emergency Preparedness Box
Putting together a Blizzard Box and storing it someplace where your loved one can reach it easily is a great way to ensure your loved one will have what she needs when those flakes begin to fly (or the sleet begins to fall). Here are some items to consider when creating the box for your loved one.
Water. You should have at least a gallon of drinking water for each day so several large bottles of water will suffice. If your loved one has strength issues and cannot lift a larger container of water, consider having a case or two of small water bottles.
Non-perishable food that doesn’t need to be heated. Also, if you add any canned goods, make sure there is a can opener. Consider items like canned fish and crackers, granola bars, jerky, fruit cups, nuts, and peanut butter.
Medications. Your loved one should have at least a week’s worth of medications in her kit. If she has her medications mailed to her, she might want more in case the mail delivery system gets backed up.
A portable propane heater. If your loved one is worried about losing power, having a small heater to keep the room she is in warm is paramount. Buy one with good safety features that turn off the heater if it gets knocked over or if there is too little oxygen in the room.
A hand-crank radio. This can help your loved one stay connected to reports about what is happening in her area.
Batteries and portable chargers. Regularly check the chargers to make sure they are fully charged and ready to be used if needed.
Several flashlights and battery-operated lights. Avoid candles if possible as they can easily cause a fire if not watched closely.
Pet supplies.
24-Hour Home Care Can Keep Your Loved One Safe
If your loved one has cognitive issues or mobility problems, you might consider having a 24-hour home care provider be in the home with your loved one. Having a skilled 24-hour home care provider in the home will ensure your loved one will have the support she needs during an emergency that can help her with decision-making, and possible evacuation if that is needed.
If you or an aging loved one are considering 24-Hour Home Care Services in Suffolk County NY, please contact the caring staff at Star Multi Care today. Call (631) 424-7827
Star Multi Care is a Trusted Home Care Agency serving Long Island and in NYC including Dix Hills, Floral Park, Great Neck, Huntington, Manhasset, Massapequa, Northport, Plainview, Rockville Center, Stonybrook, Suffolk County, Nassau County, and Queens County.
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