Disasters or emergencies disrupt our usual routines and no one really likes thinking about these things. The thought of such emergencies often causes a lot of unnecessary stress and anxiety which is why most people avoid talking about these situations. These feelings of anxiety amplify as someone ages and even though speaking about these emergencies may seem undesirable, we think it’s important. Read on to find out about the benefits of speaking to your loved one about emergency preparedness and find out how exactly you can deal with this conversation with your relative.
Benefits of Talking about Emergency Preparedness
During a disaster, being prepared can be what makes a difference between someone who manages to survive the ordeal and someone who, unfortunately, passes on. This preparation is beneficial for the following reasons:
- Prevents disasters
- Limits disasters
- Preparation can save lives
- Preparation can reduce anxiety because you are more reassured that you know exactly what to do if the emergency arises
- Preparation can make recovery easier
Talking about emergency situations that are likely to happen in your areas is more productive than catastrophizing and fixating on situations that are highly unlikely to occur. For example, if you live in a place that has many natural disasters and few cases of violence, it might make more sense to prepare your loved one for the emergency that is more likely to occur. This is important because it ensures that your loved one does not get overwhelmed and overly anxious.
Preparing before a Disaster Occurs
Before a disaster, it would be beneficial to do the following things in a stepwise manner with your loved one.
- Develop your emergency preparedness plan. For those who have loved ones struggling with memory loss, writing down their disaster plan can be very helpful so that they can consistently revisit this.
- Make an emergency contact list so that you immediately know who you can reach out to
- Have a checklist of what you need in case of an emergency, and place all these items into a bag or location where it’s accessible
- Ensure that this bag is always well-stocked
What to Do During an Emergency?
This entirely depends on the scale of the emergency. If this emergency is wide-scale, for example, a natural disaster, there should be news coverage. Remind your loved one to keep up with this news coverage as this helps them stay informed about any emergency alerts or any new developments that will help keep them safe.
Additionally, remind your loved one to reach out and seek support from a trusted group around them. If your loved one lives alone, consider moving them to a senior living community where there are amazing amenities and a supportive team such as ours. Contact us here to find out more about life in our senior living community.
What Should Your Loved One Do after the Emergency Has Ended?
After the emergency has ended, remind your loved one to reach out to you if they were unable to do so. Ensure that they have someone who checks up on them and can verify whether they have an injury or not.
