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Scroll down if you’re looking for specific Amazon product recommendations outlined in the book; there’s a lot of them. If there’s something else you’re looking for, email me.
Checklist Download
Click here (PDF File) if you’d like to download the checklist.
The Reality of Senior Preparedness
Midland WR400 NOAA Weather Radio
Midland WR120B NOAA Weather Radio (less expensive option)
Battery-powered AM/FM Radio (options under $25 are acceptable; just don’t buy a hand-crank radio)
My Smartphone Survival Apps Book
Fire and Home Safety
Motion-activated LED Nightlight (good for anytime usage, not just power outages)
Plug-in Emergency Light (good for power outage egress; only turns on when power goes out)
Wireless Interconnected Smoke Detectors (good for alerts across the whole home)
Article: Installing and Maintaining Smoke Alarms
Article: CDC Estimates on Carbon Monoxide Deaths per Year
Plug-in Carbon Monoxide Detector (basic alarm, and is what I use)
Carbon Monoxide Alarm with Digital Display (easy to read display)
Combination Smoke Detector and CO Alarm (best for ease of maintenance)
Headlamp, LED (recommended for hands-free use; most options under $20 should be fine)
ZenniOptical.com (for inexpensive prescription glasses if you must pay out of pocket)
Article: Home Fire Statistics
Article: Why Replace Smoke Alarms Every 7-10 Years
Medical Preparedness
Article: 90% of Seniors Take at Least One Prescription Medication for Chronic Condition
Cooler Traveler (for temporarily keeping refrigerated medications cold)
Force Multipliers
NONE
Water and Food Security
Aquatainer 7-Gallon Water Storage Container (good for portable water storage, but may be too heavy for older adults; included here for reference)
Can Tap Opener (for opening pop-top food cans; doesn’t remove lids)
Culligan Gravity Water Filter (Berkey filter alternative)
Article: EPA – How to Disinfect Water Using Bleach
Water Filter Pitcher (may be easier to handle than a typical gravity filter setup)
Culligan Water Filter Pitcher
Water Filter Dispenser (possibly the easiest to use, least expensive option)
AquaTru Carafe Countertop Water Dispenser (a better dispenser, BUT is requires power!)
Ring-Pull Tab Opener (opens pop-top food cans AND removes lids)
Heavy-duty Commercial Can Opener (what we use)
Under-cabinet Jar Opener (requires mounting)
Handheld Jar Opener (portable option)
Adaptive Utensil Set (easiest for people with arthritis in their hands)
Off-Grid Power and Lighting
Floor Cord Cover (use for areas where you cannot safely route cords away from your walking space)
DC-Powered Cooler (only useful if you have a vehicle that can run it during a power outage, or for evacuation purposes)
Battery-powered LED Lantern (safely provides wide-area lighting; if AA or AAA batteries are difficult to manage, consider a D-cell powered lantern instead)
Solar-powered Patio Lights (easy way to add lights outdoors along egress pathways)
Solar-powered Motion Lights (another option; we use them around our chicken coop and they work well)
Sanitation and Hygiene
Article: Average Water Usage per Home in USA
Chamber Pot (only useful if you cannot use your toilet like I recommend in the book)
Dry Shampoo (useful to conserve water when bathing; ensure you are purchasing “dry shampoo” and not just for “dry hair” as I cannot easily filter out those results)
Disposable Washcloths (for personal hygiene spot cleaning)
Perineal Wash Bottle (these are portable bidets)
Article: The 3-Bin Method for Washing and Sanitizing Dishes
Plunger-style Portable Clothes Washer (may need a bucket too, depending on what you purchase)
Outdoor Clothesline (may need clothespins too; in some cases, an outdoor rack may be preferable)
Indoor Clothes Drying Rack (best for winter use)
Temperature Regulation
Indoor/Outdoor Thermometer and Hygrometer (helpful to keep track of temperatures remotely, but almost all options require the base unit to be plugged into an outlet)
Travel Fan (most use a USB cable to charge it or to keep it running; if you don’t like this, look for a battery-powered travel fan)
Cooling Towel (will hold moisture longer, keeping you cool without requiring frequent wetting)
Electrolyte Powder (your body loses essential minerals as you sweat; these help replace them)
Four-season Sleeping Bag (most options under $50 should suffice)
Hand Warmers (not strictly necessary, but nice to have for cold hands and feet)
Mr. Buddy Indoor-Safe Propane Heater (will likely require a lot of propane canisters)*
Mr. Budding Propane Hose and Regulator (used for connecting to a 5-gallon tank; more economical, but requires you to place the tank outdoors, such as routing the hose through a cracked window)*
*Whatever you do, be sure to follow the manufacturer’s warnings and safety precautions because, although these are “safe for indoors” they could malfunction or something else could be wrong. I also strongly recommend including a carbon monoxide alarm in the room where you use these (or any) heater or heat source. Smoke detectors too!
Evacuation Planning
Modular Bags (for better organizing large amounts of supplies; just be ware that this setup can become difficult to move quickly)
Packing Cubes (for organizing items inside of bug out bag)
Hearing Amplifier (an alternative to hearing aids; these usually require batteries, so add extras)
Portable Power Bank (useful for keeping your phone charged during an evacuation; anything under $30 should suffice)
Mobility Scooter Basket
My Bug Out Bag Book
Pet Preparedness
Gentle Leader for Dogs (what we use for our dogs; get the right size for your dog)
Dog Booties (to protect dog feet from cold or hot pavement, debris)
Concerns Not Yet Covered
Reacher Grabber Tool
Long-handled Shoe Horn
Button Hook Dressing Aid
Assistive Dressing Aids (assorted devices)
Shower Chair
Gamma-Seal Lids (for adding screw off lids to 5-gallon buckets)
Bucket Opener Tool (for removing bucket snap-on lids)