El PLANETA DE LA EDAD

In the face of a storm, many people who are older and chronically ill either cannot or will not leave. The best bet is to make an emergency kit, plan ahead and stay informed. When mandatory evacuation orders are issued for natural disasters like hurricanes, it poses a special challenge for those who are frail and in poor health. People who have significant health issues or are in hospice care may be too ill to sit in cars inching along evacuation routes for hours, and their families must face the wrenching decision of whether it is better to stay or go. For people with dementia, evacuations can be especially disorienting and overwhelming. Denise Grimm, a registered nurse who is area vice president of operations for Amedisys, a home health and hospice care provider with 8,425 patients in North and South Carolina, said many elderly and chronically ill people refuse to evacuate. “If they choose not to evacuate, it’s their right. They will say, ‘Honey, I’ve been here all my li...