Alzheimer's Disease: Home Safety Information (cont.)
Natural Disaster Safety
Natural disasters come in many forms and degrees of severity. They seldom
give warning, and they call upon good judgment and ability to follow through
with crisis plans. People with Alzheimer's disease are at a serious disadvantage. Their
impairments in memory and reasoning severely limit their ability to act
appropriately in crises.
It is always important to have a plan of action in case of
fire,
earthquake,
flood,
tornado, or
other disasters. Specific home safety precautions may apply
and environmental changes may be needed. The American Red Cross is an excellent
resource for general safety information and preparedness guides for
comprehensive planning. If there is a person with Alzheimer's disease in the home, the following
precautions apply:
- Get to know your neighbors, and identify specific individuals who would
be willing to help in a crisis. Formulate a plan of action with them should
the person with Alzheimer's disease be unattended during a crisis.
- Give neighbors a list of emergency numbers of caregivers, family
members, and primary medical resources.
- Educate neighbors beforehand about the person's specific disabilities,
including inability to follow complex instructions, memory loss, impaired
judgment, and probable disorientation and confusion. Give examples of some
of the simple one-step instructions that the person may be able to follow.
- Have regular emergency drills so that each member of the household has a
specific task. Realize that the person with Alzheimer's disease cannot be expected to hold
any responsibility in the crisis plan and that someone will need to take
primary responsibility for supervising the individual.
- Always have at least an extra week's supply of any medical or personal
hygiene items critical to the person's welfare, such as:
- food and water
- medications
- incontinence undergarments
- hearing aid batteries
- glasses
- Be sure that the person with Alzheimer's disease wears an identification bracelet stating
"memory loss" should he or she become lost or disoriented during the crisis.
Contact your local Alzheimer's Association chapter and enroll the person in
the Safe Return program.
- Under no circumstances should a person with Alzheimer's disease be left alone following a
natural disaster. Do not count on the individual to stay in one place while
you go to get help. Provide plenty of reassurance.
Next: Who Would Take Care of the Person with Alzheimer's disease if Something Happened to You? »
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