Unexpected situations occur in life. Having a plan for what to do can give enormous peace of mind. People living with dementia may not cope as well with sudden changes of routine or find the added stress of an emergency very distressing.
Carers we know have recommended making contingency plans to support the person with dementia if something happened to them, such as a sudden admission to hospital or if they die before the person with dementia. Make sure family, close friends or services know what the plan is, the telephone numbers of people to contact, and other instructions.
Much of Australia is vulnerable to natural disaster (heatwave, cyclone, bushfire, flood etc.) Make sure you know your local authority’s procedures, and plan well ahead of time what you will do and the actions you should take, such as where you will evacuate to, how you would get there if a natural disaster occurred, and what supplies you need to bring with you.
The Carer Ready Guide has dementia-specific advice for how to prepare for and manage during and after a natural disaster.
Plan for emergencies
- Have a plan for different types of emergencies that make affect you and the person you support.
- Visit the Carer Ready Guide and download the guide in either the eBook format or the Flipbook format.
