Power outages are becoming much more common. Especially during the summer months when there is a much greater demand for electricity, there may be brownouts or power outages. Losing electricity can be more than just inconvenient. Seniors who have elder care providers should work with their elder care provider to develop a plan for what to do if the power goes out.
It can be dangerous for seniors. Without air conditioning, seniors can suffer from heat-related illnesses. And seniors who rely on power for medical devices can be left in a dangerous situation if the power is out for a long time.
Seniors that are living independently and their elder care aides should do these things immediately if the power goes out:
Turn Up The Refrigerator And Keep The Door Shut
The first thing that seniors should do if the power goes out is to turn the refrigerator to the coldest setting and leave the door shut. Every time the door opens it will let cool air out and warm air in. Keeping the door shut will help maintain a constant cool temperature inside. That can help preserve the food and drinks inside so that they don’t go bad.
Put Any Medications That Need To Be Kept Cold On Ice
If seniors need insulin or other medications that need to be kept cool it’s a good idea to put them on ice. There are insulated ice packs made specifically for medication bottles. Seniors should have a couple of these on hand. Keep the ice pack for the insulated kit in the freezer. If the power goes out pop the ice pack into the bottle holder and put the medication in the holder. It will keep the medication cold for a long time.
Call The Power Company
Before taking any other action seniors need to know if the power outage is temporary or if it’s going to be off for a long time. Seniors should call the power company and let them know that they are a senior living alone. Often the power company will prioritize getting service restored to seniors and disabled people. If the power is going to be out for just a short time seniors don’t have to leave the home. But if the power is going to be out for days then seniors will need to put their emergency plan into action.
Close Off Rooms
Closing off rooms that aren’t being used is a good way to preserve the current temperature. So seniors should choose one room to hunker down in and close off the other rooms. This will help keep that one room cooler if it’s warm out or keep it warm if it’s cold out. Seniors should also draw the blinds and curtains to help maintain the current temperature. If the house gets too warm or too cool seniors can sit in their car if they have one with either the heat or the AC running. Just remember to leave the window open a little for ventilation.
Sources: https://www.scientificamerican.com/article/extreme-heat-is-deadlier-than-hurricanes-floods-and-tornadoes-combined/
https://www.redcross.org/get-help/how-to-prepare-for-emergencies/types-of-emergencies/power-outage.html
https://www.medicalguardian.com/medical-alert-blog/senior-safety-/how-power-outages-affect-older-adults