Unexpected situations occur in life, and having a plan can give enormous peace of mind. People living with dementia may not cope well with sudden changes of routine, and the added stress of an emergency can be very distressing.
Carers we know have recommended making contingency plans for what would happen if the main support person were suddenly unable to help, such as during a hospital admission or if they were to die before the person living with dementia. Make sure family, close friends, or services know the plan, have telephone numbers of people to contact, and ensure they understand any special instructions.
If you live in an area where natural disasters may occur (e.g., heatwave, cyclone, bushfire, flood), learn your local authority’s procedures and plan well ahead; where you will evacuate, how you will get there, and what supplies you need to bring. The Carer Ready Guide has dementia-specific advice for preparing for, managing, and recovering from natural disasters.
If young-onset dementia is involved and you have children under 18 it’s especially important to consider guardianship for children. Decide who would care for them if the well partner were to become unable to parent or die first. Put this plan in writing, such as in a will or legal guardianship document, and make sure the named guardian understands their role. A solicitor or Public Trustee can help ensure the paperwork is valid and recognised in your state or territory.
If an urgent or life-threatening situation arises, it’s important to seek immediate help. Call 000 – you don’t need to wait or worry about whether it’s ‘serious enough.’
Think through and plan for emergencies
- Keep a written plan for different types of emergencies
- Share this plan with trusted family, friends, or services
- Visit the Carer Ready Guide and download the guide in either the ebook format or the Flipbook format
Photo: Noah Silliman via Unsplash
