Medical Emergencies and the Elderly



Pandemic Flu Concerns

Medical emergencies for the elderly, people with handicaps, or nursing home residents present unique concerns that you will need to prepare for in your flu pandemic preparedness plan.

Elderly people, people with handicaps have special considerations. They will be at risk if there are electrical failures, water/sewage service failures, difficulty getting drugs, failure of "911" services, transportation failures, failure of employees to show up for work because they are afraid of getting sick or have children who are home alone.


Prepare for medical emergencies, especially with elderly family members.

Photo courtesy of Shayan (USA)



If you would like to ask a doctor a question, a good place to do so, without the expense of a doctor visit, is doctors online advice.


If possible, families should consider taking these fragile family members into their homes. Persons at high risk for medical emergencies include those with:

  • Acute or chronic respiratory illnesses
  • Heart ailments
  • Diabetes
  • Tube feeding dependence
  • Epilepsy
  • Tracheotomies
  • Urinary catheters
  • Colostomies
  • Dialysis dependence

Extra emergency medical supplies will need to be stored for older people. And you may need to undergo training in order to assist with their special needs and care.

Questions to Ask a Nursing Home

If you can't take a family member home from a nursing home, at least ask questions about the home's contingency plans:

  1. What if the electricity goes off? How will they provide heat, light, medical equipment?
  2. Is there an emergency backup generator? How long will the generator be able to run? Are there adequate fuel supplies stored?
  3. What if water/sewage services are interrupted?
  4. Has emergency food and emergency water been stored? How many weeks will it last?
  5. How will they cook food? Refrigerate food?
  6. What if 25% of staff does not show up for work?


As you can see, the elderly pose have special needs that make them more vulnerable during a flu pandemic or any other kind of medical emergency.

Keep emergencies to a bare minimum for your loved ones by preparing as much as you can, ahead of time—before there is a true emergency in your backyard. Make sure you have a good supply of emergency medical supplies on hand. And make sure you ask the right questions if your loved one is in a long term care facility.




Hospital Care

In Home Care

Keeping a Medical Record

Flu Medicines

Return to Flu Pandemic Preparedness

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