Home Safety Month in June is a good reminder that the best time to make an emergency plan is before you need one. For families with a senior relative, that planning carries extra weight. Your loved one may have specific medical needs, limited mobility, or hearing or vision changes that require a more detailed strategy than the average household needs. The time you invest now, while everything is calm, is what makes those plans actually work when the moment is urgent.
Preparing for Multiple Scenarios
Different emergencies call for different responses, and a solid plan addresses several categories. In northern Utah, severe winter storms can knock out power for extended periods; summer wildfire smoke events are increasingly common as well. Natural disasters, power outages, and medical emergencies each require thinking through the same core questions: Where will your loved one go? How will they get there? Who will be notified?
Start with a written emergency contact list that includes you and any siblings, your loved one's physician, the local emergency services line, and a trusted neighbor. Post it somewhere visible in the home and keep a copy in their wallet. If your loved one uses a medical alert device, confirm the monitoring center has current contact details.
For natural disasters or evacuation scenarios, identify a primary destination (your home, a family member's home, or a local shelter) and a backup. Map the route and walk through it with your loved one. If they rely on a walker, wheelchair, or other mobility aid, check that the destination is accessible. Keep a "go bag" packed with medications and personal items, a list of diagnoses and prescriptions, identification, and basic supplies.
Coping With Power Outages
If your loved one uses an oxygen concentrator, CPAP machine, or electrically powered mobility device, a power outage is a medical concern. Contact the utility provider to ask about the medical baseline or vulnerable customer registry, which can prioritize restoring power to homes with medical needs. Local emergency management offices can also flag your loved one's address for welfare checks during extended outages.
Keep a battery-powered backup for any critical equipment when possible, and make sure you and your loved one both know how long the backup will last. Consider maintaining a 72-hour supply of any medication that cannot be missed year-round, regardless of whether a storm is forecast.
When You Don’t Live Nearby
Managing emergency planning from a distance requires building a local support network. A trusted neighbor, a member of your loved one's faith community, or a regular home care team member can serve as the first point of contact during an emergency. Make sure these people have your number, your loved one's list of medications, and basic instructions for what to do. In Park City, Morgan, and Clearfield, Senior Helpers caregivers already visit clients regularly, so they can do a quick check-in after a storm or power outage and alert the family if anything needs attention.
Review the plan together at least once a year, especially after any significant change in your loved one's health or living situation.
Create an Emergency Plan With Senior Helpers
Families throughout Ogden, Park City, Kaysville, Syracuse, and Morgan can find reliable in-home support through Senior Helpers of The Wasatch Mountain. Contact us today to learn how our caregivers can be part of your family's emergency plan and provide consistent, trusted in-home care year-round.