Why this matters
Review medicine, mobility, hearing, vision, cognition, nutrition, temperature and social contact. Identify what can safely be done independently, what needs support and who can provide backup if the usual carer is unavailable.
For people living with dementia or confusion, familiar routines and clear identification can reduce distress. Any identification method must respect privacy and follow local safeguarding guidance.
Before disruption
Prepare now
- Create an up-to-date care summary, medicine list, contacts and preferred communication method.
- Plan spare consumables, charging, safe transfers and transport with health professionals.
- Give at least two trusted people the information and access they genuinely need.
- Arrange regular check-ins during heat, cold, outages and severe weather.
- Prepare familiar food, hydration support, glasses, hearing supplies, mobility aids and comfort items.
When it is happening
Protect the next decision
- Check health, temperature, hydration, medicine, orientation and immediate care needs.
- Explain changes slowly and repeat the next step without arguing about confusion.
- Keep care records and note any missed treatment, falls, symptoms or behaviour change.
- Seek professional advice when care cannot be delivered safely or health deteriorates.
Plan for real people
Access, care and inclusion
- Support autonomy and consent rather than making decisions solely on the basis of age.
- Plan for carers’ own health, dependants, travel and need for sleep.
- Consider people living alone, in residential settings or with distant family.
- Make shelter and evacuation choices around toilets, quiet, mobility, medicine storage and continuity of care.
Mental readiness
Protect morale and clear thinking
- Use familiar music, photographs, drinks, meals and daily rituals to support orientation.
- Maintain meaningful roles rather than treating the person only as a recipient of care.
- Arrange respite and honest limits for carers before exhaustion becomes unsafe.
Common mistakes
What to avoid
- Assuming confusion is normal when it may signal dehydration, infection, medicine problems or another emergency.
- Moving a person without essential medicine, equipment, records or a safe destination.
- Leaving all knowledge and responsibility with one exhausted carer.
Evidence and review
Sources behind this guide
Prepare Now uses authoritative government, humanitarian and public-health material as a starting point. Source advice can be specific to a country, hazard or date, so check the current version for your location.
- Make a PlanNew Zealand National Emergency Management Agency
- People with DisabilitiesFEMA
- Put Together an Emergency KitNSW State Emergency Service
- The Sphere HandbookSphere Association
Editorial status: first staging edition. Safety-critical instructions will receive specialist and jurisdiction review before public launch.