What can you do to help a loved one that might be in an assisted living facility that could lose power?

When moving your loved one into an assisted living facility, you experience a loss of control over care. Power outages are an example of an event that can exacerbate this feeling. During an outage, assisted living can be the safest spot for an older adult due to it’s preparedness and staff. Below are some tips to help you navigate an outage.

• Upon move-in, or ahead of an anticipated storm, connect with management to understand the building’s plan for an outage, such as generators and evacuation plans.
• If the power outage could be anticipated (a pending storm), provide your loved one with a charged cell phone. Keep in mind, if this is new, they may struggle to use the device so you may have to call them.
• Provide your loved one with flashlights. Consider battery operated lights throughout to increase lighting. Dim lighting and stress could increase fall risk.
• While staying active in the dark can be difficult, consider if there are activities you can provide your loved one (think magazines, cards, books!). Check in with the Activities Coordinator to see if they will be on duty in a storm and if they will be facilitating engagement.
• You may consider bringing your loved one to your home if the facility is experiencing an outage. Be sure to talk with the nursing staff to thoroughly understand your loved one’s needs so neither of you are left unsafe.

The staff at the assisted living facility will be working hard to ensure that your loved one is safe, healthy, and comfortable but the outage could impact communication out of the facility. Practice self-care and mindfulness to take care of yourself throughout the outage until power is restored.