Aging with RAZ

Dementia and natural disasters

Natural disasters require planning when caring for someone with dementia. A confused mind may not recognize the danger. They may panic and be combative during an emergency and refuse to budge.

➡️ Create an Evacuation Plan:
Many local emergency operations centers offer a course called Map Your Neighborhood. It focuses on one street at a time. The course covers the steps to take following a disaster when emergency services are not available for the first few hours, days or even weeks. It teaches how to organize your neighbors and know who has what skills and supplies that may be useful in a disaster.

Choose meeting places in your neighborhood and at least one out of town location. Include updates via your favorite social media or the Red Cross App. Choose an out-of-state contact in case the local lines are down during the emergency. The long-distance lines may be available for calls. Text messages may get through when phone calls don’t. Include in the plan contact information for doctors, schools, workplaces, or any service providers like daycare providers or in-home medical assistants.

Each family member always carries the plan with them. Store it on your phone. Access to the Cloud will be cut off until power and communication lines are restored. Carry a back-up paper copy in a sealed baggy.

➡️ Practice the Plan
Arrange family meetings where you review and practice your plan. Include your loved one and pets. If you rush someone with a confused mind, they will become agitated. Practice the plan at different times of day, so you know what challenges to expect, especially if an emergency occurs at night. Practice techniques that help calm your loved one with dementia if they melt down.

Adapt your plan based on your practice drills’ successes and failures. Make it fun, laugh, celebrate the successes and the failures.

Practice streamlines your ability to evacuate safely. The more you practice, the calmer everyone will be in the event of an emergency, including pets. It’s easier for everyone to rely on a familiar routine. Routine reduces mistakes.

Plan. Practice. Breathe easier.