This post is seeking all of the best insights from participants in this forum. What may be the needs of dependent seniors and little people?

-- Watchful (seethesea@msn.com), March 13, 1999

Answers

What are their needs now? What would their needs be without electricity (no computers or TV or play stations for entertainment)? For little people: books, games, paper/crayons, musical instruments should be a must, food, clothes (bigger sizes for future), children's medication, sun block . . . all the usual they need now. For the elderly, it would be the same. Whatever their needs are now (food, hygiene, clothing, etc.) plus things to keep them busy. The elderly are invaluable when paired with little children. They tell wonderful stories and keep family history alive. They become useful and productive again. This keeps them mentally healthy which benefits all other areas.

-- linda (smitmom@hotmail.com), March 13, 1999.

Dependent seniors must have access to medical facilities, both routine and emergency. Many depend on prescription medications to stay alive and healthy. That demands a well-stocked pharmacy, and medical professionals that know what they are doing.

After that, warmth and nutrition. Keep them hydrated, fed, and warm.

For more details, visit your local rest home.

LP

-- LP (soldog@hotmail.com), March 13, 1999.

Watchful: For both elderly and little children-plenty of body lotion, vaseline, chap sticks, lots of liquids, diapers, rubber pads for beds, socks for cold feet, easy puzzles, playdough, drawing paper and big crayons, picture albums, magazines to look through, singing, cuddling, letting them help with easy chores, letting them talk uninterrupted-and listening to them as well, and most important, remembering that they have worth because God make them, not because of what they can "contribute." Love them both, Linda

-- newbiebutnodummy (Linda@home.com), March 13, 1999.

The young and the elderly are usually hit first in a disease outbreak. If we experience an epidemic situation it might be worthwhile to have a separate isolation building set up in order to protect the most vulnerable.

-- Mitchell Barnes (spanda@inreach.com), March 13, 1999.

Medicine was a topic that hit me a while ago. Assuming there is a supply shortage in 2000 how does one goe about preparing for theeir medical needs. What are some mechanism the folks here have found for obtaining such things as bulk supplies of antibiotics and long term supplies of permanent perscriptions for the elderly such as heart , thyroid, blood pressure and other medications?

Any perscription mail order companies out there? any other ideas?

-- nyc (nycnyc@hotmail.com), March 13, 1999.

I have 5 littles ones I need to think of. I first of all thought of medicines. Advil,tylenol, a good old fashion thermometer. They make pedialyte in powder form now. Lots of huggies diapers. Powdered milk. Snacks. Instant pudding, dehydrated fruit. Larger clothing in case supplies are cut off. I have purchased larger sweat suits. They will keep them warm in winter and the sleeves and legs can be cut off for cooler clothes in the summer. I have also purchased larger shoes and underwear. Materials for education, in case schools are being used for shelters. Books, puzzles, crayons, paint, paper, play dough, etc.

-- Lori (ABaby72@aol.com), March 13, 1999.

As mentioned in a previous post stocking up on clothes for childern is going to be a important consideration. It seems to me that most clothes are made overseas, and we can't rely on the availability of overseas products post Y2K. North America no doubt will not be able to supply its own clothing needs. People can survive without alot of things but clothes is not one of them. Funny I have not seen this as a hot topic.

Brian

-- Brian (imager@ampsc.com), March 13, 1999.

For the elderly (or just the aging Baby Boomers) - lots of spare reading glasses. These are cheap enough at department/drugstores to buy several pair in varying strengths, and magnification needs can change fairly frequently.

-- Wanda (lonevoice@mailexcite.com), March 13, 1999.

A 25-year-old book (Survivalist's Medicine? i think) said over-the- counter animal pharmecueticals could be bought at animal feed supply stores in this country. It said the quality of the antibiotics etc. were the same as human- grade, but that one carefully had to adjust the dosage etc. Recommended using them only in an absolute emergency and when no other options are available. Has anyone in the Northeast seen such supplies in a feed store? My local Agway doesn't have anything.

-- (argh@12milesaway.com), March 13, 1999.

My .04 cents worth (inflation) ... Everyone, but especially children will be doing a LOT more walking, so buy extra shoes in larger sizes NOW !! There is a tick vaccine available now, so immunize NOW !! Eagle .... Circling.... watching .

-- Harold Walker (e999eagle@freewwweb.com), March 13, 1999.

I have started a new thread on "Mechanisms for obtaining bulk antibiotics, etc"

I feel this is a stand-alone topic argh

-- (argh@12milesaway.com), March 13, 1999.

Preparation for preparation. Just wanted to share a personal thought...

We have always been semi-self sufficent, but of course now we have accelerated our preparations. I suppose since husband and I had always taken such preparation in stride, we thought nothing of talking about the current and impending situations in front of our 15 year old son, often including him in the conversation, yet never giving him explaination of how we personally would fare.

Well, my eyes where opened when during a conversation, he stated he had heard enough about Y2K, and it scared him. Well, I was taken aback to say the least, angry at myself for my oversite, and like some idiot, assured him not to worry, mom was planning, storing, etc.

As you see, I further compounded the situation by not even at that time telling him the truth. I thought about this for some days, and today opened the conversation again with stating the fact that I had broken the one promise I had always kept, since the day he was born, that I would never lie to him. We then proceeded to have one of those rare moments you hope to share with a child and had a conversation of so much substance. I had to confess to him that this may be one situation mom really single-handedly can not take care of, and certainly not by herself. Some things that I could reassure him of or explain to him, I have learnt right here on this forum, and I am so grateful to all of you for that.

I know this story is a bit personal, but I offer it here to other's who may profit by it. I honestly had no idea how upsetting this whole situation was to my big, strong, teenage "baby". This may also apply to elderly adults who may be past their days of easy understanding or no understanding of computers and infastructure. I have learnt my lesson, and in our family, open talking will be a valuable part of our preparation.

Sincerely,

Amy

-- Amy (mileoffroad@mountain.top), March 13, 1999.

Something I've been trying to plan for but I haven't heard anybody else mention:

How to occupy people. It's not a small issue. Under times of stress, especially when people can't go to work, the movies, etc., keeping them busy is critical, but even moreso, keeping them busy in some way that makes them feel like they are contributing to their own survival.

That means working out materials and teachers for school classes in a neighborhood home(s) for kids. That means finding 'easy' work that needs to be done, perhaps with food preparation, for older people. That means finding other work -- building things, gardening like maniacs -- that healthy other people can do. Most importantly, that means finding out what skills and knowledge people in your family or community have, and working out times for "classes" where they can teach some of this to others in the group. Is someone a midwife, do they grow herbs, do they teach school, do they know CPR, whatever. Useful knowledge needs to be shared and it will both expand that knowledge in the group and give many people something to do that makes them feel both useful and like they are doing something constructive to 'deal with' the situation they find themselves in.

For children and the elderly, the products mentioned above are certainly needed. I would recommended soy milk or a way to get soy or goats milk or something, for babies -- in a culture that encourages women to depend on formula instead of nursing we are going to have some hungry babies and frantic mothers come Y2K. For older people, I think some of the most useful things for their comfort would be the stuff people don't want to think of -- denture adhesive and cleaner, disposable underwear for incontinence, toilet paper (please god, let me have enough of that! I'd rather do without meals now and then that!) and for people especially women of all ages who suddenly find they need clothes and blankets and have time on their hands in the evening with no TV et al -- lots of yarn and crochet needles, and lots of books for people of all ages.

My personal suggestion is that if you have even a small little yard in an apartment, you seriously start looking into gardening, and look into the many uses of different kinds of plant. One real time-taker is the actual processing of many plants into fibers for use, for example, and then weaving the fibers into whatever. Hemp (the non-drug type) is one of the most useful plants on the planet assuming you can grow it without getting arrested. Bamboo is cool, if you have the climate for it, doesn't take much room, it's useful for furniture and even tools when grown, it's a great sunshade (plant sensitive stuff near it in the shade), and you can eat the new shoots. Anyway, but lots of plants have many uses, and it takes time to get from the plant to the product, and people can be occupied with that kind of thing.

One of zillions of necessary ideas.

PJ

-- PJ Gaenir (fire@firedocs.com), March 14, 1999.

other responses were fairly comprehensive. add vitamins and heat to your list.

-- jocelyne slough (jonslough@tln.net), March 15, 1999.

This site has over 250 games with rules,we all played them as kids but not played much anymore.-Redrover-Popcorn ect...

http://corpcomm.net/~gnieboer/gamehome.htm

please forgive also can not hot link

Darlene

-- Darlene (boomer@tdstelme.net), March 15, 1999.