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

An energy box might be a good idea? Usb charable torches, power bank, leads etc on a shelf in the living room and one upstairs. Then those little push on / motion stick on lamps as shown upthread

If you check their zone you mat well find they’re in a different one to you. My PIL live about 20 mins away and they are in a different zone to us so their cut times will be different to ours

Watch out if your parents use electric recliner chairs. My mum got stuck fully reclined when electricity went off and was unable to get out of the chair to let us know! The Alexa also went off so she couldn't shout it to call us.

Could you invest in something like an Everhot electric mini stove (they’re not cheap!) which could be plugged in and keeping them warm whilst the power is on but which will give out heat for a long time - hours - after it goes off? It also has a small oven space inside and a cooking ring on top so they could warm food and drinks at the same time? If we’re looking at 2 hour blackouts one of these would easily cope with that if heated up fully beforehand.

I have an everhot. They are very expensive to run now that prices have shot up. It’s a bad purchase I’m afraid unless you have solar panels

But the cost of it isn’t the issue here, it’s about keeping two vulnerable elderly people warm and safe…and that’s priceless! It also couldn’t be easier to use, there’s nothing to think about as it’s “plug and go”.

also, and I accept I may use mine differently to other people - you only need it switched on for half the time you want it to be giving out heat, because the heat storage aspect works even when it’s not switched on…

I just thought I'd add that there was an item on our local news the other day about this sort of thing; they were interviewing a firefighter about household safety during power cuts. He very strongly advised against people using camping stoves and barbecue devices in the event of power cuts, as they are meant for outdoor use and, in some cases, can send out harmful toxic gases. I mention it as the OP refers to a camping cooker.

It is quite worrying. Best wishes to you all this winter. x

Thank you for all the responses - some really good ideas to look into. And for the link to the zones... as yes, it turns out that they are in a different zone from me which will make things easier. I'm quite used to mercy dashes when needed!

Instead of hot water bottles have you looked at these?

www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B0014LJKUA/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_asin_title_o00_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1

They're aimed at pets (!) but I have them for my elderly parents. They're like a hard disc that you microwave for about 5mins. They get warm rather than hot, but they stay warm for hours, so if power cuts are planned you can heat them in advance. I think they're safer than hot water bottles as won't burn fragile skin.

HI @caringcarer are these the light bulbs with storage capacity? I've tried Google, but can't find them Do you have a link? thanks.

Maybe invest in a hay box type thing - Amazon do this - Wonderbox Thermal Cooker - Haybox Cooker Kit. Heat casseroles that are all in one and can be put into hay box to finish cooking and keep warm. They can then eat hot food whenever they want.
Get a big pump action flask for hot water for drinks.
Use triple wick, wide-based candles that are stable, in the middle of big table.
Hot water bottles, fleece hoodies, thick warm dressing gowns that aren’t too long. Warm well soled slippers.

Put emergency power cut lightbulbs into Amazon

@User84 Thanks. See some now