Senior Emergency Preparedness Checklist
A standard emergency kit provides the foundation. Seniors need that foundation plus a carefully considered layer of personal additions that no pre-packed kit can anticipate: a 30-day medication supply, medical documents, and comfort items. The goal is 72 hours of genuine self-sufficiency, or the ability to get help quickly if something goes wrong.
This checklist expands on our page on customizing an emergency kit for your family's specific needs.
What medications and medical supplies should seniors pack?
- At least a 30-day supply of all prescription medications, rotated regularly to keep them current. That is the American Red Cross recommendation for older adults, longer than the one-week figure it gives for households generally
- Copies of all prescriptions and a complete list of dosages
- Any medical equipment: glucose monitors, blood pressure cuffs, hearing aid batteries
- Extra eyeglasses or a written copy of the current prescription. Glasses are easy to lose in a hurry and hard to replace afterward
- A whistle or personal alarm. If a fall happens out of reach of a phone, this is how someone gets help, particularly for anyone living alone
- Extra phone charger or backup battery pack. When the phone is the one way to reach people, a charged phone is the whole plan
Which documents belong in a senior emergency kit?
- Copies of insurance cards, Medicare and Medicaid information, and doctor contact numbers
- A written list of all conditions, medications, and allergies that emergency responders should know about
- Copies of important legal documents. A will, power of attorney, and healthcare proxy
- A written emergency contact list including family members, neighbors, and caregivers. A printed copy works when a phone does not
What comfort and practical items do older adults need?
- Warm clothing and an extra blanket. Older adults can be more affected by heat and cold
- Personal care items specific to individual needs such as denture supplies, incontinence products, or other daily essentials that are easy to overlook and hard to do without
- A battery-powered or hand-crank radio. Local emergency broadcasts reach people whether or not they carry a smartphone
- Cash in small bills. ATMs and card readers frequently go down during emergencies
- A familiar comfort item. Emotional wellbeing during displacement matters, particularly for anyone with memory concerns
Talk to your doctor about obtaining a small emergency supply of critical medications. Many physicians will provide one if asked directly.
The guidance on this page aligns with Ready.gov, FEMA's preparedness campaign, and the American Red Cross.
Looking for general preparedness guidance? Visit our Be Ready Basics FAQ.
Browse our senior survival kits, built around sheltering at home rather than evacuating.
If you want a version your parent fills in themselves, written in their own voice for a paramedic or neighbor to pick up and act on, that is The Senior Emergency Planning Guide. It holds medications, equipment, backup power, mobility, pets, and support network, with sensitive details kept on a separate private page that never leaves the kit. It is only available with a senior bundle.
Wondering how to bring the conversation up with an older parent? Here's how to start that conversation gently.