From tornadoes and flash flooding to ice storms to snowpocalypses, Michiganders are no strangers to severe weather – but not all are always prepared for it. For older adults, especially those who live alone, proper planning is critically important.

Tom Muszynski, Chief Operating Officer of Care Resources PACE, a community-based program helping people 55 years and older, knows first-hand the level of prep that’s needed for this population. When the forecast is severe, he leads a thorough process of evaluating and prioritizing participants’ health and safety.

“We pull together our whole team, including physicians, nurses, social workers, home healthcare aides, bus drivers, and more, to talk through the unique needs of every participant in our program,” Muszynski explains. “We consider who has urgent appointments they cannot miss, like dialysis, and then back fill from there to make sure every person has what they need.”

The team then works to get enough supplies and meals out to participants ahead of the storm and arranges for transportation as necessary. They think through any medical equipment that may need electricity and what backups, like oxygen tanks, can be in place in the case of a power outage. Medications are delivered to make sure doses aren’t missed.

Planning further in advance for harsh winter weather is equally important. Muszynski says now is the time to assess home safety needs like ramps, snow removal, and HVAC tuneups, in addition to taking illness prevention measures with vaccine clinics and good hand hygiene.

To review the full list of tips on how to better prepare for winter weather, read the full article here.

Last updated 11.4.24 | H5610_WEB