ELDER LAW TODAY – Fall 2017

The extreme weather around the country lately has us thinking about preparedness. Read on for tips, courtesy of The Office of Public Health Preparedness and Response (www.cdc.gov/phpr) on staying safe and prepared in case of emergency. The Office of Public Health Preparedness and Response suggests taking steps now to prepare for and cope with an emergency. The three main areas of focus are:

• Get a Kit
  • If disaster strikes, you may not have access to food, water, or electricity for several days. Preparing an emergency supply kit is key!
  • Your emergency kit should contain the following items:
    • Water and Food
    • Manual can opener/basic eating utensils
    • 3 day supply of all medications, at a minimum
    • Medical supplies’ i.e. syringes, cane, extra hearing aid battery
    • Personal care items; i.e. soap, toothbrush/toothpaste, baby wipes, extra pair of glasses
    • First aid kit
    • Emergency blanket
    • Multipurpose tool that acts as a knife, file, pliers, and screwdriver
    • Whistle
    • Flashlight
    • Battery powered or crank radio
    • Cell phone charger
    • Extra batteries
    • Copies of important documents; i.e. insurance cards
    • Paperwork about any serious or on-going medical conditions
    • Pet Supplies
• Make a Plan
  • You and your loved ones may not be together when disaster strikes, so make a plan for how you all will connect.
  • Find safe spots in your home for different disasters; i.e. flood vs. tornado.
  • Determine the best escape routes from different areas of your home.
  • Practice and review the plan periodically with your loved ones.
• Be Informed
  • Authorities try to share information in a number of ways in an emergency. Stay informed by:
  • Finding out how to receive local emergency alerts. Some communi-ties offer emergency text programs or post extensively on social media pages. Find out how to take advantage of these resources.
  • Learn your community’s warning signals. Be able to recognize local warning sirens.
  • Watch reliable new sources and keep a weather radio handy.

In the spirit of being prepared, we at The Levinson Firm, would LOVE if our clients took an additional step in being prepared and made sure they had updated estate planning documents. A fall or terminal medical diagnosis is also an emergency. By making sure you have a Durable Power of Attorney, Advance Healthcare Directive and Will in place, you are protecting yourself and your loved ones against crises. If you have questions or would like to discuss next steps, please give us a call at 302-656-3393.