Emergency preparedness for older adults should begin with the routines, medicines, equipment and support that protect health every day. A generic supply list is useful, but it is not enough when someone depends on regular treatment, mobility aids, refrigeration, electricity, accessible transport or help from another person.
The goal is a plan that works during both sheltering at home and evacuation. Build it before a warning arrives, share it with trusted people and review it when health, housing or support changes.
Start with the emergencies most likely where you live
The National Institute on Aging's disaster-preparedness guidance recommends identifying local hazards first. Flooding, wildfire, extreme heat, winter weather, storms and earthquakes create different decisions about shelter, evacuation, power and transport.
Use your local emergency-management authority for alerts, shelter information and evacuation instructions. Record at least two ways to receive warnings because power, mobile service or internet access may fail. Keep a battery-powered or hand-crank radio if it suits local guidance.
Map the health needs that cannot simply pause
List the care, supplies and assistance needed during an ordinary week. Include prescription medicines, over-the-counter products, medical treatments, oxygen, dialysis, mobility aids, hearing devices, continence supplies, special foods and help with daily activities.
For each essential need, write:
- What is needed and how often.
- Who normally provides it.
- What happens if the usual service is unavailable.
- Who can help with a backup.
- What information a responder or substitute provider would need.
Ask a clinician, pharmacist, equipment supplier or treatment center about safe backup options. Do not change doses, ration medicine or substitute equipment without qualified guidance.
Make a medicine and refrigeration plan
Keep a current medicine list with names, doses, schedules, allergies, prescribing contacts and pharmacy details. Ask the pharmacist how early refills, emergency supplies or transfers work where you live. Refill rules differ by country, region, medicine and insurer.
If medicine needs refrigeration, ask how long it remains usable at different temperatures and what storage method is appropriate. Keep the manufacturer's instructions and pharmacy contact with the plan. Do not assume every refrigerated medicine follows the same rule.
Our medication review guide for older adults can help you prepare questions before an emergency.
Plan for equipment and loss of power
List every device that uses electricity or batteries, including oxygen equipment, powered wheelchairs, adjustable beds, home monitors, communication devices and hearing aids. Record model information, power requirements and supplier contacts.
The CDC's emergency power guidance recommends identifying backup power for personal devices, appliances and home medical equipment. It also includes emergency lighting, charging options, extra batteries and battery-backed smoke and carbon-monoxide alarms.
Ask the equipment provider which backup sources are approved and how long they last. Test them on the recommended schedule. Never use fuel-burning equipment indoors or contrary to local fire and carbon-monoxide safety guidance.
Build two emergency kits
Keep one larger kit for home and one portable bag for evacuation. NIA recommends planning for essential supplies for three to seven days. Follow local authorities when they recommend a different duration.
Adapt the kit to the person. Consider water, nonperishable food, a manual can opener, first-aid and hygiene supplies, flashlights, batteries, chargers, warm clothing, sturdy shoes, masks, local maps, glasses, hearing-aid batteries, mobility supplies and items for pets or service animals.
The CDC's emergency-kit guidance emphasizes individual needs, including medicines, health documents, communication aids, backup batteries and mobility devices.
Check expiry dates and battery condition several times a year. Keep the kit accessible. A perfectly stocked bag is not useful if it is too heavy to move or stored where the person cannot reach it.
Protect records and contact information
Store copies of identification, insurance information, medical summaries, medicine lists, allergies, key results, equipment details and emergency contacts in a waterproof container. Keep a secure digital backup if practical.
Give the relevant information to a trusted person and say where the current version is stored. Use the personal health record checklist to organize the medical portion without carrying unnecessary original documents.
Plan evacuation and support roles
Choose more than one destination and route. Confirm whether shelters can support mobility, communication, medical equipment, service animals and other needs. If the person does not drive, identify who will provide transport and one backup option.
Assign specific roles instead of relying on a general promise to help. One person might provide transport, another protect medicines and records, and another contact healthcare providers. Our healthcare and support team guide can help clarify names, contact details and responsibilities.
Practice the plan. Check whether the person can leave the home, carry the portable kit, use backup communication and reach the agreed meeting place. Update the plan when mobility, memory, housing, equipment or support changes.
A seven-part preparedness checklist
- Identify local hazards and official alert sources.
- List essential health needs and backup providers.
- Prepare medicine, refrigeration and equipment plans.
- Build accessible home and evacuation kits.
- Protect health records and important contacts.
- Assign transport and support roles.
- Practice, correct problems and set the next review date.
The Healthy Aging System includes general tools for organizing medicines, health records, support contacts, difficult-period priorities and earlier reviews after life changes. It does not replace local emergency instructions, medical advice or an individualized disaster plan.
Medical and safety disclaimer: This article provides general educational information. It does not diagnose, prescribe treatment or replace advice from clinicians, pharmacists, equipment providers or local emergency authorities. Follow official instructions during an emergency and contact local emergency services for immediate danger. Sources checked September 18, 2026.