Emergency kit for elderly parents UK: a low-cost kit and plan

Quick checklist

Start with a conversation

Many older people have managed for decades and may not welcome a kit arriving in a box. Ask first. "What would you do if the power went out tonight?" is a better opener than a checklist. Listen, then build on what they already do.

Dignity and choice come first. It is their home. Offer, show, and let them decide. A short kit they keep is better than a big one they put in the loft.

What goes in an emergency kit for elderly parents in the UK

Think about the daily routine. What do they rely on? Lights, heating, the kettle, a phone, a hearing aid, a stairlift, a chair that lifts? List these, then ask what would help if each stopped for a few hours. Our guide to emergency kit mistakes shows what tends to waste money, so you can avoid it.

Be Ready asks households to be ready for about three days of disruption. For many, a few hours is the likely case, so start small.

Light

A power cut at night is the main worry. Keep a torch within reach of the bed, switched off, with a spare set of batteries beside it. Choose one with a big, easy button. A plain AA or AAA LED torch (Retailer link coming soon) does the job, and the batteries are easy to find.

Do not use candles. They are a fire risk, especially if someone gets up in the dark. A second torch near the front door and one in the kitchen help.

Warmth

Layers are the low-cost answer. Keep a few blankets in a basket where the person sits. A fleece blanket (Retailer link coming soon) is light and easy to wash. A hot-water bottle with a cover (Retailer link coming soon) is a cheap source of warmth. Follow the maker's safety advice: use the cover, never use boiling water and replace worn bottles.

Our guide to keeping warm in a power cut has more. If your parent feels cold, unwell or is worried about their health in the cold, speak to their GP, a pharmacist or NHS 111.

Medicines list

Do not stockpile medicines. Instead, make a list. With your parent's agreement, write down each medicine's name, what it is for as they understand it, and who prescribes it. Their GP or pharmacist can help check it is right. Ask the pharmacy about repeat prescriptions. Order in good time, especially before bank holidays or forecast bad weather.

Keep medicines in a cool, dry place, in their original packs. Our guide to organising medication at home shows how. Never change doses or stop medicines because of a power cut. Speak to your GP or pharmacist about anything you are unsure of.

The Priority Services Register

The Priority Services Register (PSR) is a free service run by energy and water companies. People may qualify if they are of pension age, have a health condition, a disability, or rely on equipment that needs power. It can mean extra help in a power or water cut. Ask your parent whether they would like to sign up, then do it together, through their energy supplier or network operator. Our PSR guide explains the steps. For power cuts, the number is 105.

Hearing, sight and mobility

Think about what each need means in an emergency.

• Hearing: will they hear a phone, a smoke alarm or a knock? Ask about flashing or vibrating alarms and doorbells.
• Sight: a torch, large print and a bright, marked button help.
• Mobility: can they reach the stopcock, fuse box, door and phone? Keep paths clear. Do not move furniture without asking.

If your parent has a carer, tell the carer about the plan.

A large-print contact card

A single card, kept by the phone and in a bag, should have:

• Names and numbers of family and a trusted neighbour.
• Their GP surgery and pharmacy.
• 105 for power cuts, 0800 111 999 (Great Britain; Northern Ireland: 0800 002 001) for a gas smell, 111 and 999.
• Their energy supplier name and account number.

Write it in big, clear letters. A pack of family contact cards (Retailer link coming soon) can help; choose a layout with large print. A magnetic fridge pad (Retailer link coming soon) suits someone who likes a paper list in the kitchen.

A check-in plan

A call is the simplest kind of help. Agree with your parent who will check on them in a power cut or bad weather: a neighbour, a relative, a friend. Agree how: a knock, a call, a note through the door. Write down numbers, and share the plan with the person who agreed. Our guide to a family emergency communication plan shows how.

Battery radios let people keep up with news if broadband is down. A battery-powered radio (Retailer link coming soon) is optional and worth it if they like the radio.

Keep it low-cost

You do not need to buy everything at once. Use what they own. Start with a torch, batteries, blankets and the card. Add the rest as budget allows.

Do this today (free)

1. Ask your parent what they would like help with.
2. Check torches work and batteries are fresh.
3. Write the large-print contact card.
4. Agree a check-in neighbour.
5. Ask whether they would like to sign up to the PSR.

If you have £10, £25 or £50

These are budgets, not quotes. Prices change, so check the current price first.

• About £10: a torch for the bedside and spare batteries.
• About £25: add a hot-water bottle with a cover and a fleece blanket.
• About £50: add a battery radio and a second torch.

Sources and further reading

• Be ready for emergencies: checklist and household plan
• Priority Services Register
• NHS: find a pharmacy
• Age UK