Emergency Planning with Dementia

An emergency can disrupt familiar routines and make it harder for someone living with dementia to understand what is happening. A plan can help the person and their helpers act with less last-minute pressure. It should fit the person’s needs, the place where they live and the local hazards in that area.

The Alzheimer’s Association emergency-preparedness guide recommends preparing information, supplies and backup support. FEMA’s guide for older adults and people with disabilities also highlights communication, transportation, medicines and assistive devices. This is general planning information; follow local emergency instructions.

How can I make a plan that fits the person?

Ask the person what would help them feel safer and who they trust. If possible, include them in choosing a meeting place, emergency contacts and familiar items to take. Keep instructions short and clear. The plan can change as the person’s routines, health or mobility change.

List more than one person who can help. A primary caregiver may be at work, away from home or affected by the same emergency. Agree who will contact whom, who can provide a ride and who can check on the person if plans change. Give each helper a copy of the information they need.

Consider what could interrupt the person’s usual support. If they live in an apartment, attend an adult day program or receive in-home care, ask how that service handles evacuations, power outages or closures. Find out who will contact the family and how the person’s support needs will be met.

What information and supplies should I keep ready?

Make a small kit that is easy to carry. Include current emergency contacts, a medication list, important health information, a phone charger, spare glasses or hearing aids if needed, weather-suitable clothes and a familiar comfort item. Add mobility or communication supplies the person relies on. Check that items are up to date from time to time.

Keep essential papers in a place you can reach quickly, but protect private information. Ask the person which items they want shared and with whom. A helper may need the person’s name, preferred way to communicate, important contact details and medicine information, but they do not need every private record.

The best items are the ones this person actually uses. A favorite sweater, photo, book or small familiar object may be more reassuring than extra supplies they do not recognize. Keep the kit light enough for someone to carry or lift it safely.

What should a written plan say?

A short plan is easier to share with a backup helper than a long set of notes. With the person’s agreement, include:

• Who to contact. List the primary and backup helpers, the person’s care providers and a way to reach each one. Say who will update the others if the household moves.
• How to communicate. Note the person’s preferred name, how they best understand information, and familiar words or routines that may help them feel oriented.
• How to travel. Record the transport option and the mobility or communication equipment the person relies on. Ask the provider or local emergency office about accessible options before an emergency.
• Where to find essentials. Note where the kit and current medicine list are kept. Keep private records in a secure place, and share only the details each helper needs.
• What the service will do. If the person receives care outside the home, list the named contact and where the service’s current emergency plan can be found.

Check that a backup helper knows where the plan is and how to use it. Keep a paper copy available if power or phone access fails, but avoid posting sensitive health details where visitors can read them.

What should I know about sheltering or evacuation?

Learn where local emergency instructions are published and how alerts reach the household. Decide where to go if authorities advise evacuation, and how the person will get there. If the person uses a wheelchair, walker, oxygen or other equipment, ask the relevant provider how to transport it and what backup supplies may be needed.

There is no universal rule for whether to stay or leave. The emergency, the person’s needs and instructions from local authorities all matter. Ask the local emergency management office or care provider how to plan for accessible transport and shelter. Do not rely on this guide to make a decision during a specific emergency.

If a care home or adult day program is involved, ask for its written emergency plan. Find out who is responsible for the person, how the family will receive updates and what happens if pickup or travel plans change. Our home-safety guide covers everyday hazards inside and around the home.

How can I support the person during an emergency?

Stay with the person if it is safe to do so. Explain what is happening in short, calm phrases and repeat the information if needed. Keep familiar routines where practical, and let responders know how the person prefers to be addressed and what helps them communicate.

If the person becomes distressed, reduce extra noise and limit the number of people talking at once. Offer a familiar item if it is safe and available. Avoid arguing or giving a long explanation while everyone is under pressure. Follow instructions from emergency workers and care staff.

Tell medical staff about any sudden change in the person’s behavior, communication or health. The NHS says sudden confusion needs immediate medical help. Do not assume a new or severe change is simply part of dementia.

How can I keep the plan useful?

Review the contact list, medicine information and equipment when care arrangements change. Check dates on supplies and update the plan after a move or a new mobility need. Ask the person if the plan still feels comfortable and who they want involved.

Caregivers also need backup. The caregiver self-care guide has ideas for asking other people to share support. A simple plan with a few trusted helpers can be easier to use than a long list no one has reviewed.

The aim is to be ready enough to act, while keeping the person involved and comfortable. Follow local emergency instructions and ask qualified professionals about needs specific to the person.