Keeping Parents Warm & Fed if there are Blackouts

[Pebble21uk]

So I was reading on Sky this morning how the chief of the National Grid has said that during the very coldest days of Jan and Feb there may be blackouts between 4-7pm on weekdays.

I'm well prepared for such eventualities but I'm very worried about how to help my parents. Dad is 88, not in good health and cognitively quite slow now. My Mum is 85, has dementia and is housebound. They have minimal external care as my father won't tolerate more than a cleaner and somebody comes in to help Mum have a shower every week.

I only live 20 mins away, but in the event of blackouts would be unable to get them over to my house given Mum's mobility. They have a modern house - elec and gas and no other forms of heating and cooking.

I do have them on the 'priority' list if the grid goes down but wondering how I can set them up. I have a spare camping cooker but I really don't think my dad would now manage to use one.

They have hot water bottles, torches, flasks... but does anybody know of any safe and user friendly devices for heating, lighting, cooking... and I mean really user friendly!! Thanks

Well, I just bought a camping lantern and its definitely not user friendly. Multiple button pushes for on, brighter, brightest, warm, cool, flashing!! But a lot safer than candles. I think there is supposed to be warning the day before a planned blackout, so maybe concentrate your efforts on making sure they or you are contactable by email or text. Then just take over a flask, hot water bottle and a meal, that you have prepared at your house (hoping you don't get cut off at the same time as your parents!).

Would they wear head torches?

At least it would light up wherever they were in the home.

I imagine you can get ones that charge up.

Given you would have a days notice could you not go over to their house before the power goes off ?

I think this point is important. My understanding is (and who know what the truth is about anything at the moment!) it's not going to be a daily thing (meant to be a worse case scenario) and we will be given notice.

Can you get them some lanterns / torches; hot water bottles (to fill up before power goes off) a battery radio for company and a flask (to fill up a warm drink before power goes off) and few high energy foods eg biscuits to store.

Thanks for the replies. Absolutely I will make sure they have hot water bottles, filled flask etc and will be over there more frequently etc.
My question was in response to reading this: news.sky.com/story/prepare-for-blackouts-on-cold-weekday-evenings-national-grid-chief-warns-12723349 this morning - which seems to suggest (although I might be wrong) that it could be a daily occurance in the coldest of the weather in Jan & Feb.

I have blue tooth speaker/head torch/head band which is rechargeable but you can get rechargeable wooly hats with a head torch on Amazon for under £ 10.00.

This worries me about mum. I don't live close and work full time but if I go up beforehand to set things up, get lanterns out etc she won't remember why and is likely to tidy them away and forget they ever existed. I can speak to her on the phone me the day after a visit and she will complain she hasn't seen me for weeks even though I go every other weekend.

It could be daily but for different parts of the county on different days

Although that is current worst case - that could change

Oh this made my heart sink! Sending you good wishes for your lovely mum.

Just to add to the joy, many homes have landlines that are dependent on broadband service. The assumption from the powers that be is that everyone has a mobile as backup. And the direction of travel is that all landlines will be like that soon.

I think this a timely reminder to us all to check on our vulnerable neighbours and liaise with their relatives who might live further away.

When my aunt was housebound and starting to suffer from dementia it was hugely helpful to know that her lovely neighbours kept an eye on her, visited two or three times a week and reported any worries to me.

OP, I hope you find a solution for your parents, it's a worry.

When my Dad was living alone (and refusing to move in with us at the time!) I worried about power cuts so got him 4 of those battery lanterns, one by his bed, another by his armchair, one in the kitchen and one in the bathroom. So they were always there and visible and not far if he needed one. Also i did his shopping so made sure there were items of longer life food in his fridge and cupboards (eg long life milk, some tuna pasta pots, etc) and a couple of throws upstairs and down. Plus make sure it's possible for them still to use the phone on a power cut. We put an old fashioned plug-in one as well as his cordless set.

Download the rota and then find out what zone they are in. It will then tell you for each day of the week what your blackout slot will be. The country is split into zones of equal load so that everyone shares the burden equally.

rotas are all online. Some people have been pushing saying their latest bill states which zone they are in.

Get them some of these basic battery wall touch lamps.

You can stick them to various surfaces within there reach in different rooms so they can just touch on and off as needed. Can also just have unstuck in bedside drawer/ kitchen drawer as convenient portable light options they can use on table as needed.
Ideally at least one in toilet, near stairs, near bed and kitchen. Can be stuck under kitchen cabinets now for example so not lost.

solar battery sensor lights for outside front door, on driveway incase street lights off to help prevent falls. Our wall mount ones are still bright on sensor after 10 years.

Where is this rota? Just had a Google and can’t find anything.

Rota

assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/995049/esec-guidance.pdf

zone can be found on powercut105.com

Flask with hot soup in. You can get wide neck flasks you can put other hot food in too eg. Baked beans or tinned spaghetti. Warm fleece blankets to snuggle on sofa. I have heard you can buy a light bulb with a storage capacity in it. So whilst electric on it is lit but it draws extra electricity to keep lit up when electricity out. I expect they are expensive but great for elderly parents. I am going to look to buy a couple.

How about a more industrial version of the "snap to activate" glow bracelets that kids have? Would your parents have the dexterity to snap them?

Priority list doesn’t apply in the emergency rota scenario I’m afraid.

Don’t know if this will be readable but it’s the priority list. It’s very limited.

Fulighture Bayonet Light Bulb [4 Pack], B22 Base 12W (100W E...

I think this will answer energy blackouts.

Wind up torches/ lanterns are good. Thermos flasks that you can put soup etc in. A good knitted blanket is very warm. Hats. Maybe write a list of what they have / can do and keep it to hand in case they get flustered? Or to remind them where they put things?

I wouldnt give them hot water bottles if they are cognitively slowing and maybe have stiff fingers, too much chance they will spill the water and burn themselves. I would get a box of the skiing hand and foot warmers, they heat up when you open the packet and last for hours. I would also get a charging bank for their mobile phones (assuming they have one) and a lantern style torch or hat with built in torch but only get something with big on and off buttons. Also a list of emergency numbers to call to stick in the fridge and some camping meals that self heat when opened.

Another worry is that things like aidcall buttons won't work.