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Elder’s Hurricane Kit

Donna Nichols • September 3, 2024

Hurricane season in Florida is six (6) months long, that’s half of the year. While it’s rare to have hurricanes outside of the months of August and September, it does happen, and it is happening more often. Hurricanes have become more intense as well as more prevalent.


I was born here in New Smyrna Beach and can remember when I was little going outside and playing in hurricanes as they were no more than wind and slight rain. We would prop our front door open, open our windows and sliding glass door and the breeze that came through the house was fabulous.


These days you must board up your entire house and don’t even think about stepping outside! Going out in a hurricane today is like being in the Wizard of Oz when Dorothy’s house is whipping through the sky and she tells Toto, I don’t think we’re in Kansas anymore.


2004 saw four (4) hurricanes within a six-week period. This was the worst year I can remember ever hitting Florida in my 60+ years.


           August 13, 2004, saw Hurricane Charley which came ashore in Punta Gorde as a strong Category 4 hurricane.


           September 5th we were hit by Hurricane Frances at Hutchinson Island as a Category 2 hurricane.


           On September 16th, very soon after Frances along came Ivan. Ivan hit the western panhandle, Pensacola area, as a Category 3 hurricane.


           September 26th brought Hurricane Jeanne hitting Hutchinson Island again, only this time as a Category 3 hurricane.


Yes, 2004 was an extremely busy year for hurricanes here in Florida.


           September 1, 2008, Hurricane Gustav hit the panhandle again, luckily it was downgraded to a Category 2.


           Memorial Day weekend 2012, yes before hurricane season evens began, we had tropical storm Beryl. She ruined so many plans for services and memorials as she dumped so much water throughout Jacksonville and beyond.


           Jump ahead to 2022, and we saw two devastating hurricanes, Ian, and Nicole. Ian was a monster at a Category 4 in September and luckily Nicole came late in November and was only a Category 1, yet she did so much more damage to an already damaged city; we were all thankful Nicole wasn’t any stronger.


           August 30, 2023, brought Hurricane Idalia a strong Category 3 storm making landfall in Keaton Beach, Florida.


Some of our regular afternoon thunderstorms can be worse than a hurricane, so if you hear thunder, please get inside. And remember, just because you don’t see lightning, it doesn’t mean it’s not there; we are the lightning capital of the United States.


September 10 is the peak for hurricane season, and it is rapidly approaching, are you ready? Do you have a hurricane kit prepared? What about a kit for your elders? What will they need to take in a hurry? You should have something prepared for them so they can grab it and go in a hurry. What should you pack for them to take in case they need to evacuate quickly?


In the bottom of a box place a case of water, any important papers (sealed in plastic), put some snacks for a couple of days in there too. Make sure to put a flashlight in the box along with extra medications and any other pertinent information you think they may need. If they enjoy doing word search puzzles, put a book or two of those in there too. You may want to make sure they have clean clothes, including under garments and pajamas, extra hygiene products, toilet paper, and hair care products in the box as well. And don’t forget the first aid supplies too!


Just remember, our elderly loved ones don’t think as quickly as they used to, it’s up to you to ensure they are prepared in case they need to evacuate in a hurry. If they reside in a nursing home or an assisted living community, please make sure the staff knows where their belongings are, so they grab them if evacuation time comes. If they live in their own home, make sure they know where this box is and write notes and post by the door or telephone as to where it is located so they can grab it and go quickly.



Just as we depended on them to keep us safe when we were young, they now depend on us to keep them safe as they age. Make sure you are there for your elderly loved ones.

Make Valentine’s Day Special for Seniors

By Donna Nichols • February 5, 2025
Valentine’s Day tends to zero in on romantic love, but what about our seniors? They too often get forgotten. We have some ways to make Valentine’s Day special for them too. Spend the day with your loved one. Spending quality time with a loved one is more important to a senior than anything else. There is no greater gift than time and please make sure you have enough, so you are not rushed. Do your elderly loved one have a favorite meal? Perhaps you can prepare it for them, or if they are able, you can prepare it together. How fun would that be for you both? Be sure to discuss the enjoyment it brought you while you are sharing the meal together. How about a game of name that love song? You could prepare a playlist of love songs from the generation and play them to see how many they get correct. Or, if you can sing, you can sing some for them and see if they can recollect them. Take some time for reminiscing, go through old photo albums, or ask about old times. Ask them about when you were young and what trouble you caused; this will give you all something to laugh (or cry) about. Has your loved one been cooped up all winter? Take them out for a nice lunch, or weather permitting, a picnic in the park. Go for coffee and a donut, then head out to see a movie. Make a “date” of it. Maybe your senior is into crafts. You can design special Valentine’s Day cards for other family members. This way your senior can express their love for them and send it to them in their own unique way. You can create other greeting cards as well. Bake some special treats together. Does your senior have some favorite cookies or cake? You could bake it together, or you can bake it for them. Then you can enjoy it after you have the meal you prepared together. Yummy, delicious!! You can watch some romantic movies together if they prefer to stay in the house or the weather isn’t so good. If they like to color, you can buy them some of those large coloring books and you can color together. Don’t forget the decorations and the flowers! Make the house or apartment as festive as possible. Even if they live in as assisted living community, you can still decorate their room to the nines! Make it as festive as possible! If you live in another state or can’t be close to your senior for Valentine’s Day, how about sending them a specially crafted care package. You can hand make some gifts, add some photos of family and friends, and send a personally recorded message. You can bake some homemade treats and incorporate some things that are of personal interest to them. This will show how much you care for them and make their Valentine’s Day extra special even if you can’t be with them.  There are so many ways to make Valentine’s Day special for seniors. Let’s not forget about them; make sure to show them they are so loved too!

February is National Heart Month

By Donna Nichols • February 4, 2025
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Hydration Tips for the Winter

By Donna Nichols • January 8, 2025
I’ve written many blogs about the importance of staying hydrated in the summer, but did you know it’s just as important to stay hydrated in the winter months? I’ve shared some important tips on how to stay hydrated in the winter and why. Cold, dry air can dehydrate you easily and quickly. Even if you don’t feel thirsty. Proper hydration can help regulate your body temperature, maintain healthy organ function, and prevent fatigue, dry skin, and headaches. In the colder months, you do not feel thirsty, that’s why it’s so important to make sure you drink plenty of water. Why is winter hydration so important? Colder air tends to be drier causing moisture to evaporate through your breathing which can cause dehydration. In colder weather, you may not feel as thirsty, causing you to become dehydrated quickly. Also, wearing more clothing traps sweat inside your clothing causing more fluid loss. What are some of the benefits of staying hydrated in the winter? • Drinking enough water helps keep your skin hydrated and prevents dryness. This will help with that dry, itchy skin feeling we all get in the winter. • Water helps your body maintain a regular core temperature. Which is so important to maintain in the winter. • Drinking plenty of water supports your immune system, which helps fight off winter colds and the flu. We all want to fight those germs off! • When you are dehydrated, you become tired easily, so drinking plenty of water helps keep your energy levels up. How do you stay hydrated in the winter? • Make sure you drink plenty of water. Set reminders if you must; you probably won’t feel as thirsty in the winter, but you need to keep drinking that water! • You don’t have to drink cold water; room temperature water works. You can also drink tea or water with lemon, as long as you’re getting your water. • If you’re going out, carry a water bottle with you to ensure you have water to drink. • Eat fruits and vegetables that contain water. Tomatoes, lettuce, strawberries, watermelon, cauliflower, mushrooms, cucumber, apples, and pineapple are just a few that contain high water contents. • If you think you’re dehydrated, check your urine; if it’s a darker color, that can suggest dehydration. Urine should be a pale, yellow color. As you can see, staying hydrated in the winter is just as important as staying hydrated in the summer, if not more. In the winter you don’t realize you are thirsty therefore you tend not to drink as much water as you should. This has the potential of wreaking havoc on your body. Please make sure you drink plenty of water in the wintertime as you do in the summertime. We have rebranded our company, we are now Assisted Senior Services! Call us for ANYTHING SENIOR!! 386-847-2322!
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