Seniors & Identity: Age-Friendly Emergency Readiness

Why This Matters

Many older adults need extra help in emergencies.

But they may not think they need extra help.

They may ignore messages that use the word “disability.”

The challenge: How do you reach people who need help but do not use labels?

The solution: Talk about actions and needs, not labels.

The Identity Barrier

The Problem

Old way: “Are you disabled? Do you need special help?”

Result: Many seniors say “no” and miss important help.

Why this happens:

The Better Way

New approach: Ask about specific needs, not labels.

Instead of: “Do you have a disability?”

Ask: “Do you need help with stairs? Do you use medical equipment?”

Part 1: The Identity Barrier Strategy

Use Symptom-Based Questions

Focus on what people do, not who they are.

Bad questions:

Good questions:

Why This Works

People answer “yes” to functional questions.

They answer “no” to identity labels.

Example:

Result: You reach more than twice as many people who need help.

Build Trust Networks

Seniors trust people they know more than government alerts.

The principle: Use messengers seniors already trust.

Trusted Messengers for Seniors

1. Senior Centers

2. Faith Groups

3. Meals-on-Wheels

4. Home Health Services

5. Pharmacies

How to Do This

Step 1: Find Partners

Step 2: Create Materials

Step 3: Train Messengers

Step 4: Track Reach

Part 2: Practical Aging-in-Place Readiness

Most seniors want to stay in their homes.

Emergency plans must support this.

The Power of 3 Network

What it is: Three people who can help you in an emergency.

Why 3?

How to Build Your Power of 3

Choose your three people:

What they need:

What you need from them:

Setting It Up

Meeting your Power of 3:

  1. Talk to them first
    • Explain what you need
    • Ask if they can help
    • Thank them for being there
  2. Share information
    • Write down medications
    • List medical equipment
    • Note doctor contact info
    • Add pharmacy details
  3. Give them access
    • Provide spare key
    • Show where things are
    • Explain your routines
    • Tell them your concerns
  4. Test the system
    • Call them once a month
    • Practice the plan
    • Update information
    • Stay connected

Print this template: See “Printable Resources” section below for the Power of 3 Contact Sheet

Tech-Simplicity: Low-Tech Backup Plans

Many seniors use smart home devices.

These fail when power goes out.

The rule: Every tech solution needs a non-tech backup.

Smart Home Backup Guide

If you use voice-activated lights:

If you use a medical alert button:

If you use automatic medication reminders:

If you use internet-based phone:

If you use electric garage door:

If you rely on TV for alerts:

Finding Items by Touch

Rule: You should be able to find key items in the dark.

Why: Power goes out at night. You may not have a flashlight.

How to do this:

  1. Create texture markers
    • Put tape on medication bottles
    • Different textures = different meds
    • Feel the difference without seeing
  2. Organize by touch
    • Keep emergency items in same spot always
    • Use boxes with different shapes
    • Count steps to important places
  3. Practice without light
    • Turn off lights
    • Find flashlight by feel
    • Find medications by feel
    • Find phone by feel

Part 3: Communication Guidelines

The Plain & Slow Protocol

Audio alerts must work for age-related hearing changes.

The changes that happen:

Audio Alert Standards

1. Tone

2. Speed

3. Background

4. Voice

5. Repetition

Audio Script Template

[2-second pause]

Attention.

[2-second pause]

This is an emergency alert.

[2-second pause]

[Your message - one sentence]

[2-second pause]

[Repeat message]

[2-second pause]

[What to do - one action]

[2-second pause]

[Repeat action]

[2-second pause]

Example:

[pause]
Attention.
[pause]
This is an emergency alert.
[pause]
Heavy snow is coming tonight.
[pause]
Heavy snow is coming tonight.
[pause]
Stay home after 6 PM.
[pause]
Stay home after 6 PM.
[pause]

Clear Visuals for Seniors

Older eyes need different design.

What changes:

Visual Standards for Emergency Materials

1. Font Size

2. Contrast

3. Font Choice

4. Spacing

5. Paper

Reading During Panic

Stress makes reading harder.

Design must help with this.

The principle: Each line should have only one idea.

Bad:

Leave the building right away using the nearest exit, 
taking your emergency kit and medication with you, and 
go to the meeting point at the parking lot.

Good:

Leave now.

Use the nearest exit.

Take your medication.

Go to the parking lot.

Before printing emergency guides:

How to Use This Guide

For Emergency Managers

Week 1: Assess

Week 2: Partner

Week 3: Create

Week 4: Deploy

Ongoing:

For Seniors

This week:

  1. Choose your Power of 3
  2. Talk to them
  3. Give them information
  4. Practice your plan

This month:

  1. Make your low-tech backup list
  2. Get flashlights and batteries
  3. Write down important numbers
  4. Test your backups

This year:

  1. Update medication list quarterly
  2. Test your Power of 3 monthly
  3. Replace batteries twice yearly
  4. Review and improve your plan

Key Terminology

Access and Functional Needs: What you need to stay safe.

Extra Support: Help that makes emergencies easier.

Power of 3: Three trusted people who can help you.

Low-Tech Backup: Non-electric way to do something.

Trusted Messengers: People and groups you already know and trust.

Real-World Examples

City of Portland Success

Challenge: Low registration in senior community.

Old approach: “Register if you have special needs.”

New approach: “Do you use oxygen? Register here.”

County Health Department

Challenge: People with smart homes not ready for power loss.

Solution: “Tech Check” program

Faith Community Network

Challenge: Seniors living alone not getting alerts.

Solution: Trusted messenger program

Printable Resources

Power of 3 Contact Sheet

Your Name: _______

Person 1:

Person 2:

Person 3:

My Medications:

My Doctor: _____ **Doctor Phone:** _________

My Pharmacy: _____ **Pharmacy Phone:** _________

Special Equipment: _______

Last Updated: _______

Low-Tech Backup Worksheet

What I use: _______

How it helps: _______

If power fails, I will: _______

What I need: _______

Where I keep it: _______

Tested on: _______

Additional Resources

Age-Friendly Resources:

Emergency Preparedness:

Communication Tools:

Questions to Consider

For your organization:

For improvement:

Help Us Improve This Guide

We need your experience:

Share your feedback:

Summary

The main rule: Focus on what people need, not what you call them.

The plan:

  1. Ask about specific needs, not identity labels
  2. Use messengers seniors already trust
  3. Build Power of 3 support networks
  4. Create low-tech backups for every tech solution
  5. Design audio alerts for older ears
  6. Design visual materials for older eyes

The outcome: More seniors get the help they need because you asked in a way they could answer.

“The most effective support is the support people actually accept.”