How to prepare for a disaster

Advance preparations

• If the person with dementia lives in a residential facility, find out about its disaster and evacuation plans. Ask if you will be responsible for evacuating her.
• Whether you live with the person with dementia, or you are a long-distance caregiver, make sure evacuation plans include his specific needs. Check your local Alzheimer Society and other organizations that provide services to elderly people, to see if help is available.
• Prepare an emergency kit (see below for suggestions).
• MedicAlert^® Safely Home^® is a 24-hour nationwide emergency response service for people with dementia who wander or who have a medical emergency. Call toll-free at 1-855-581-3794.

Emergency kit

Consider preparing an emergency kit. Keep it in a watertight container and store it in an easily accessible location. Your emergency kit might include:

• Easy on/off clothes (a few sets)
• Supplies of medication (or minimally, a list of medications with dosages)
• Velcro shoes/sneakers
• An extra pair of glasses
• Incontinence products
• Extra identification items for the person, such as an ID bracelet and clothing tags
• Copies of legal documents, such as a power of attorney
• Copies of medical documents that indicate the individual’s condition and current medications
• Copies of insurance and social insurance cards
• Waterproof bags to hold medications and documents
• Physician’s name, address and phone numbers (including cell phone)
• Recent picture of the person with dementia
• Hand lotion or other items to promote comfort<
• Bottled water
• Favourite items or foods; liquid meals
• Pillow, toy or doll to hold for comfort
• Phone numbers for Alzheimer Society, and MedicAlert®Safely Home®

If you know a pending disaster is about to occur:

• Get yourself and the person with dementia to a safe place.
• If the need to evacuate is likely, do not delay. Try to leave as early as possible to minimize long delays in heavy traffic.
• Alert others (family, friends, medical personnel) that you are changing locations, and give them your contact information. Contact them regularly as you move.
• Be sure there are people other than the primary caregiver who have copies of the person’s medical history, medications, physician information and family contacts.
• Purchase extra medications.
• If your family member uses oxygen, be sure to obtain portable tanks.

Get more information on disaster preparedness from Public Safety Canada.