Elderly Care in West Windsor NJ

A fire can occur within seconds and cause extensive devastation within a matter of minutes. This type of emergency can strike without warning and be unrelated to other emergencies such as natural disasters, or a part of the chaos that is already happening. Regardless of when, how, and why it happens, if a fire occurs in your parent’s home, your role as a family caregiver will need to kick in so that you can help your senior to move forward and start recovering.

Use these tips to help your loved one recover from a fire:

• Get medical assistance immediately. In the immediate aftermath of a fire your first priority will be to make sure that your aging parent is safe. If they have been burned or may be suffering from smoke inhalation, get them to an emergency medical facility as quickly as possible. Allow the first responders to handle their immediate care and transport them if at all possible. Be sure to get emergency medical assistance for any potentially injured animals as well.
• Do not reenter the home. Even after the fire has been put out, there are many potential dangers in the structure. Do not reenter the home until the authorities have deemed it safe. If the damage is extensive, keep your parent out of the home completely and handle any recovery efforts yourself and with the help of others rather than allowing them to be a part of it.
• Discard any potentially contaminated items. Go through the home and find any items that could have been contaminated by the fire, smoke, soot, or water from the fire department and discard them. This includes any food, beverages, and medications or medical supplies that might be damaged. Do not allow your parent to use these items. Get in touch with their doctor as quickly as possible to discuss any medications or treatment supplies that might have been damaged or contaminated so that the doctor can get them replacements. Try to keep the packaging of these supplies in the event that you need to provide proof of the damage.
• Be attentive to your parent’s emotional wellbeing. Even if the fire was only minor, the emotional impact can be quite severe. Be attentive to how your parent is reacting to this situation so that you can take steps to support their emotional wellbeing moving forward. Be aware that your parent might not immediately express that they are going through something difficult or that they are feeling depressed, anxious, fearful, or any other difficult emotion. You might simply need to pay attention to their behaviors in order to detect if they might need additional support.
• Get prepared. Sit down with your parent and start building a new fire emergency plan. Talk about the new items that they will need for their home and how you might be able to reduce the risk of fire with those items. Being more prepared can help your parent to feel more confident and less fearful as they move forward.
• Consider elder care. Hiring an elderly home care services provider for your aging parent can help them to get through the difficult recovery period after a fire, and can make them feel better moving forward. This care provider can give them a personalized set of services tailored to their specific needs to help them to manage life’s daily challenges and demands more effectively. They can also simply provide companionship and an extra presence so that your parent feels more secure.

If you or an aging loved one are considering hiring elderly care in West Windsor, NJ or the surrounding areas, please call Independence Home Care today at 609-208-1111 for more information.

http://www.redcross.org/get-help/prepare-for-emergencies/types-of-emergencies/fire/home-fire-recovery