Pandemic Preparedness Tips for Persons with Disabilities

Keep up to date on the situation. This can include following your local health authority on social media or checking their website.

Attendant Care

Have conversations with your support team about the backup plan if your main caregiver becomes sick or is reassigned.
Have a back-up plan if your attendant does not come to work or is sick.
Ensure attendants have not travelled to an affected area or outside of Canada in the last 14 days.
Ask attendants to wash their hands when they arrive and before they provide any assistance.
Put hand sanitizer or disinfecting wipes at the main entrance to your home with a garbage pail for any refuse.
Be sure your attendants wash their hands after all assistance.
Be sure that you wash your hands after all assistance.

Before visiting please call to inform the individual you are dropping by.
Be ready to answer any questions about your recent engagement with other individuals to see the likelihood of passing on the disease.

Create a buddy system to make sure you get groceries, equipment and other necessities if local public transit systems temporarily close.

Keep 30 days of medical supplies (e.g. catheters and dressing supplies) and medications on hand.
Make sure your list of prescription drugs is up-to-date. Make sure all of your medicines can sustain you for the next 90 days.
For individuals with regular weekly needs, stay in contact with your pharmacy and physician.

Make sure all your financial and medical information is in the bag.
Pack everything you may require in case you need to be relocated to a medical facility or community centre.
List of the local phone numbers in case of emergency.
Include key people to inform them of your change of circumstances.
Set up your smart phone emergency texting group.