Successfully reacting to a crisis requires being able to call for assistance or flee to a safe space, but sometimes we can’t do either. That’s where an emergency plan comes in. These five steps can be a lifesaver for you or a loved one.
Actor Gene Hackman, his wife, and their dog all died in their home, but no one found them for days. Their story should make us all stop to think: If you were in danger, how would you alert someone if you didn’t have a phone within reach? If you couldn’t let someone know that you needed help, would anyone figure out that you were in trouble?
Everyone – whether they’re old or young, in poor health or great health, living alone or with someone – should have a well-thought-out emergency plan, including alternative ways for reaching help in a crisis and people watching out for them.
Elements of your emergency plan
Here are steps you can take to ensure you always have help when you need it:
1. Set up smart speakers everywhere.
Your phone is in the bedroom, and you have a bad fall in the kitchen. With Amazon Echo, Google Nest or Apple HomePod speakers strategically positioned in the main rooms of your house, all you have to do is call out for help and you can have someone at your home in no time. Only Apple/Siri allows you to call 911 (and a phone must be connected to the speaker), but Alexa will call your emergency contact and Google will call anyone in your contacts.
2. Wear a smartwatch.
If you’re an older adult, your grown kids may have been bugging you to wear a medical alert necklace to give them the peace of mind to know you can reach out for help. While you may not be ready for that step, strapping a smartwatch to your wrist can give you similar emergency response functions (as well as many other features) with none of the stigma! What’s more, many of these smart watches have fall detection capabilities, which will also initiate a call for help wherever you are, as well as a siren.
3. Get to know nosy neighbors.
We’ve all had that neighbor who seems to know all our comings and goings. As you get older, you may appreciate having people around who are observant and can spot when something may be amiss. Maybe they haven’t seen you walking the dog lately or your car hasn’t left the driveway for a while. Or they notice your packages accumulating on the front porch. Be sure to give these extra-observant neighbors your phone number (and a key or door code, if feasible), and alert them when you’re going to be out of town. That way when something is out of the norm, they will be able to check on you.
4. Find a wellness buddy.
People will notice your unexplained absence if don’t show up or call in for a job. Your coworkers or boss may wonder if something is wrong and try to locate you. But if you’re retired – and especially if you live alone – no one is keeping tabs on you. This may be appealing, until you need help! Make a deal with someone – whether it’s a family member or a friend – to be your wellness buddy and text or call each other regularly. You could even set up a group text and a group of your friends could check in with one another daily. Make it an easy habit to keep by sharing a joke, inspirational message, or other enjoyable message.
5. Post an occupants’ sticker.
You may have a sticker on your front door alerting emergency responders of the pets in your home, but it’s important that they know about all the occupants of the house, in case someone isn’t in an obvious location. There are even stickers to inform emergency responders about people with special needs such as dementia or hearing loss.
Your health might be perfect today, but accidents and illnesses happen to the best of us. And even if you have a partner or someone else living with you, they may not be home when that problem strikes. Having an emergency plan in place will give you a sense of security and remove some of those stressful “what if’s” from your life!
