How to Prepare for Brownouts and Power Outages With Your Senior
Brownouts and power outages are not uncommon in Burnsville, especially during the summer when extreme weather, strong winds, and lightning can make the power go out. Whereas most outages last for a few minutes or several hours, sometimes they can linger on for days.
As a caregiver of a senior person, your duties stretch beyond ensuring that their tasks of daily living are well managed. You must also factor in unexpected events that can happen in life. For example, while a power outage can be frustrating and inconvenient, it can also be life-threatening.
Planning can ensure that the elderly individual under your care is ready in case of a brownout or a power outage. Read along for tips on ensuring the safety of the elderly in your care.
1. Consider Having a Backup Generator In Place
If you feel it would be dangerous for your elderly to go without power, you can have a conversation with their close family members to have them purchase a generator. The generator can be attached to their power so that it can automatically provide emergency power in case of a power outage.
2. Inspect Their Emergency Kit
An elderly emergency kit should include basic items such as a first-aid kit, non-perishable food, several bottles of drinking water, a change of clothes, and other items you feel will help the elderly individual remain comfortable in case of a prolonged power outage.
3. Have Them Charge Up
If you have received alerts about possible power outages in your area, ensure your elderly take the time to charge all their devices, including their cell phone. This will help keep them connected throughout the outage in case they need to call for help.
4. Sign Them Up for Alerts
Use your elderly's mobile device to sign them up for alerts. This will ensure they get real-time updates about potential power outages and information on when the power is likely to come back on.
5. Ensure You Have Backup Medical Devices
If your senior uses electrical medical devices, talk to their doctor about backup methods they can use to keep the equipment on or what they can do in case they lack access to supplemental power. Have these instructions printed and displayed in central locations for anyone to reference in case of a brownout or a prolonged power outage.
6. Get To Know All Nearby Emergency Shelters
Many communities have pre-determined locations where organizations can set temporary shelters to take care of vulnerable populations during unexpected power outages. Most power outages occur during the summer months and can pose a danger to a senior living alone. In addition, you should know the emergency shelters in your area that can serve as cooling shelters to protect your elderly from overheating.
7. Create Awareness for an Unexpected Power Outages
Now that you know how to adequately prepare the senior under your care for an unexpected power outage, you may not always be around during emergency cases. It is, therefore, important to train the elderly about the steps to take in case the power goes out. This will ensure they do not get unduly alarmed or stressed by the outage.
Enrolling your elderly loved one in a home care program is one of the best decisions you can make. If you are a Cottage Grove and Hastings resident, you can take advantage of Senior Helpers Burnsville's amazing services to ensure your loved one is well taken care of. Contact us today to learn more about our services in Burnsville.