Emergency Preparedness for Seniors
Having a plan in place before disaster strikes can make all the difference. Preparedness for seniors requires special consideration and planning. From medical needs to mobility challenges, older adults face unique risks during disasters.
Know Your Hazards
Understanding the risks specific to your region is the first step in emergency preparedness. For Washington residents, these hazards include earthquakes, tsunamis, wildfires, floods and extreme weather events.
"We want you to be two weeks ready," emphasized Hollie Stark from Washington state’s Emergency Management Division in a recent WA Cares webinar. This means having enough supplies to plan and be self-sufficient for two weeks in case of disaster. This will allow you to help yourself before systems come back online and professional help can arrive.
Create an Emergency Plan
Having a clear plan is crucial for seniors who may have specific needs during an emergency. Creating plans for communication, evacuation and reunification for yourself and your loved ones. For seniors with medical needs, the webinar panel suggested keeping a written list of medications and notifying utility companies about life-sustaining equipment that may be in your home to prioritize power restoration.
Special Considerations for Long-Term Care Facilities
When choosing a long-term care facility, understanding their emergency preparedness protocols is essential. The panel explained that emergency requirements vary by facility type, with nursing homes having the most robust standards.
"Understand what you or your family's role may be in an emergency," advised Richard Freed, emergency preparedness coordinator for Residential Care Services at the Department for Social and Health Services. "Maybe you live close by to the facility, and you can house your family member if there was a disruption to power."
How WA Cares Supports Emergency Preparedness
The WA Cares Fund, Washington's new long-term care program, can support emergency preparedness by providing eligible workers with a benefit of up to $36,500 that can be used for various long-term care needs.
Benefits can be used for home modifications such as grab bars and wheelchair ramps that make homes safer during emergencies. The program also covers assistive technology like medication reminders and fall detection systems that can be crucial when regular routines are disrupted.
Most importantly, WA Cares helps seniors age in place, which simplifies emergency planning. As Sebastian Cahe, WA Cares Outreach and Language Access Lead explained, the program "is designed to help people age in place and in their homes as long as possible. That is what most of us would like to do and want to do if we have these kinds of supports in place."
By taking small, actionable steps today, seniors and their caregivers can build their capacity to respond effectively during emergencies with greater confidence and resilience.
For more information, watch the replay of our April webinar, WA Cares Conversations: Emergency Preparedness for Seniors