A power outage, flood, or heat wave doesn’t affect everyone equally. People who have difficulty walking, depend on medication or electrical medical devices, or live alone are especially vulnerable in these situations. At the same time, older adults are often experienced preppers – many still have a well-stocked pantry. What matters is thinking about special needs early on. This article is aimed at seniors themselves and at anyone who supports parents, grandparents, or other relatives.
Medication: the most important point
The BBK (Germany’s Federal Office of Civil Protection and Disaster Assistance) explicitly recommends that people who need support have a medication schedule and a supply of essential medications. In a crisis, pharmacies may be closed or supply routes may be cut off.
- Clarify your supply: Talk to your doctor and your pharmacy about how much of a reserve makes sense and is possible for each of your long-term medications. Don’t wait until the package is almost empty to order refill prescriptions.
- Medication schedule on paper: A current schedule with the names of the active ingredients and the times to take them, printed out, kept with your document folder and in your go bag.
- Medications that need refrigeration: Check with your doctor’s office or pharmacy how long they keep without a refrigerator and how you can store them during a power outage.
Medical devices and power
Glasses, hearing aid, walking aid, walker, incontinence supplies – taken for granted in everyday life, indispensable in an emergency. The BBK advises keeping spare batteries, rechargeable batteries, and chargers for technical aids, as well as mobility aids in case you have to leave the house quickly.
- A spare pair of glasses and spare batteries for the hearing aid belong in every emergency kit.
- For a stairlift, care bed, electric wheelchair, or medical alert system: How long does the battery last? Is there a manual emergency function?
- If you depend on life-sustaining electrical devices, such as an oxygen concentrator or home ventilator, you should work out a concrete power outage plan with your doctor, home care service, and the device manufacturer – and know when to call the emergency number 112.
Medical alert systems and power outages
A medical alert system gives many people who live alone peace of mind. According to the Verbraucherzentrale (German consumer advice center), a battery can bridge power outages for about 10 to 20 hours. If the phone or internet network goes down, a device with a SIM card has an advantage. Under certain conditions, including having a recognized care level (Pflegegrad), the Pflegekasse (statutory long-term care insurance fund) contributes to the costs.
Adapting your basic supplies
The general BBK advice applies here as well: a supply for ten days if possible, at least 1.5 liters of fluids per person per day plus about 0.5 liters for cooking. For older adults, a few additional points apply:
- Easy to open: Canned food with pull-tab lids, smaller water bottles instead of heavy canisters.
- Suited to your diet: Take chewing and swallowing difficulties, special diets, and medically recommended nutrition into account.
- Drink enough: Older adults often have a weaker sense of thirst. Drinking regularly is especially important in hot weather – unless your doctor has prescribed a limit on fluid intake.
- Light for safe pathways: Falls in the dark are a major hazard. Lamps with motion sensors or a lantern next to the bed help.
Your Support Network: No One Should Be Alone
The BBK (Germany’s Federal Office of Civil Protection and Disaster Assistance) recommends talking with neighbors, family, and friends about how they can support each other in an emergency. In practical terms, that means:
- Who checks on whom? At least one person nearby who will knock on your door or call you during a power outage or severe weather.
- Leave a spare key with someone you trust.
- Keep a paper contact list next to the phone: family, neighbors, your family doctor’s office, home care service, pharmacy.
- Ask your home care service: How does the service handle crises? Which emergency number applies?
- Plan for evacuation: Who will help you leave your home if the elevator is out of service? If the usual routes can’t be used, the BBK advises arranging support early.
In basic military training, one of the first principles is: no one gets left behind. In everyday civilian life, that means something very practical: someone knows who in the neighborhood needs help – and you’ve talked about it beforehand.
Important Documents and Emergency Information
In addition to the usual document folder, the following are especially important for seniors and people who need care:
- Medication schedule and important medical findings (copy)
- Living will (advance directive) and power of attorney for health care
- Copy of ID card, health insurance card, and care level notice (Pflegegrad)
- Contact details for your family doctor’s office, home care service, and relatives
- An emergency card with notes on communication, for example for hearing loss
Place a short emergency info sheet where it is easy to see, for example on the inside of your front door or on the refrigerator, so responders can quickly find the most important information.
Receiving Warnings Reliably
Not everyone uses a smartphone with a warning app. A battery-powered or hand-crank radio and knowing the siren signals are therefore especially important. Relatives can also set up the NINA warning app (Germany’s official emergency warning app) for their parents’ location and call them when a warning is issued.
In short: Always coordinate your medication supply and medication schedule with your doctor’s office or pharmacy. For assistive devices and devices that depend on electricity, keep spare batteries and an emergency plan ready. And most importantly: a reliable support network of family and neighbors, arranged in advance.
Recommended Gear Compared
| Produktbild bei AmazonBudget entry pointSolarbaby Notfall-Solarradio | Produktbild bei AmazonSolid middle groundActa Berg Kurbelradio | Produktbild bei AmazonLargest reserveROCAM Kurbelradio 12.000 mAh | |
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| Rating | at least 4.3 out of 5 starswith 500+ customer reviews (our selection criterion)See current reviews* | at least 4.3 out of 5 starswith 500+ customer reviews (our selection criterion)See current reviews* | at least 4.3 out of 5 starswith 500+ customer reviews (our selection criterion)See current reviews* |
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| View on Amazon* | View on Amazon* | View on Amazon* |
Selected by manufacturer data and customer reviews (at least 4.3 stars with 500+ reviews). We only show exact star ratings when they come from Amazon the same day. As of 04.10.2026. Not tested by us. Current prices and reviews are on Amazon. *Ad · paid link
| Produktbild bei AmazonTwo-pack with batteriesSUBOOS Campinglampe 2er-Set | Produktbild bei AmazonBrightest optionLepro Campinglampe 1500 Lumen | Produktbild bei AmazonWith battery & power bankPopoIron Campinglaterne 2er-Set | |
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| Rating | at least 4.3 out of 5 starswith 500+ customer reviews (our selection criterion)See current reviews* | at least 4.3 out of 5 starswith 500+ customer reviews (our selection criterion)See current reviews* | at least 4.3 out of 5 starswith 500+ customer reviews (our selection criterion)See current reviews* |
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| View on Amazon* | View on Amazon* | View on Amazon* |
Selected by manufacturer data and customer reviews (at least 4.3 stars with 500+ reviews). We only show exact star ratings when they come from Amazon the same day. As of 04.10.2026. Not tested by us. Current prices and reviews are on Amazon. *Ad · paid link
Conclusion: our product picks
Crank Radios Compared
For most households, the Acta Berg offers the best compromise between battery reserve and size. If you want to recharge your phone over several days, go for the ROCAM with 12,000 mAh. For a small emergency backpack, the Solarbaby is enough.
Camping Lanterns Compared
For a power outage at home, the Lepro is the brightest, running on storable D batteries. If you want to light up two rooms, go with the SUBOOS two-pack – batteries are already included. The PopoIron pays off if you have a power station or solar panel on hand to recharge it.
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Sources and Further Information
General information, no substitute for individual advice from authorities, emergency services or medical professionals. In an emergency in Europe: 112.
