How Much Food and Water Should be Available During a Power Outage?
As a family caregiver, you never want to think about your aging parent being in a situation that is uncomfortable or potentially dangerous. Unfortunately, as winter weather approaches, there is the potential for serious situations such as a power outage. Preparing for these events ahead of time allows both of you to feel more confident and at ease, and enables your senior to get through the situation in the best way possible. While you are preparing your senior for the potential of a power outage, it is likely you wonder how many supplies they will actually need. The first emergency supplies most people think of our food and water, so it is critical to make sure your senior has enough of these supplies available and readily accessible to get them through such an emergency.
The most important consideration during an emergency is water. Plan for one gallon of water per day, per person, for at least three days. In order to be safe, this water needs to be sealed during storage. If you have reason to worry that the power outage or lack of access to clean water will be more than three days, store more water or consider having access to products you can use to clean and sanitize water, such as iodine tablets, chlorine tablets, or unscented household bleach.
Your senior’s emergency supplies should also include enough non-perishable, high nutrition food for three days. This food should require little-to-no preparation, no heat, as little water as possible, and be easy to consume. Focusing on nutrient dense food is important as it will provide the most energy and sustain your senior for longer.
When considering the amount of food and water to have available for your senior in the event of a power outage, remember that it may not be just your senior in the home during such an event. Power outages and weather emergencies can occur extremely suddenly, and it is important to have enough emergency supplies available for all those present. Consider having extra supplies available for others who are frequently in the home with your parent, such as you and their senior care provider.
When it comes to helping your loved one live their best quality of life one of the best things you can do is diversify their care. Introducing senior care into their routine is a way to offer your senior more social stimulation, boost mental and emotional health, encourage more activity and engagement with the world around them, and provide a more meaningful and fulfilling chapter in their later years. As a family caregiver, this can help you to feel more confident your senior is living their best life regardless of the challenges or limitations they may face.
If you or an aging loved-one are considering senior care in McLean, VA, please contact the caring staff at Butters Home Health Care today. Call (833) 4 MomDad. Serving all of Northern Virginia.
Sources: