This article was originally published by Ethan Huff at Natural News.
In trying to come up with Time To Plan For The Worst Rather Than Hope For The Best, many folks end up stumbling upon generic information aimed at the young and agile – meaning it isn’t exactly suited for middle-aged and elderly people who might require more than just the bare essentials if they hope to survive an emergency situation.
If you’re someone who wants to be adequately prepared for the future, but who also recognizes that your needs are changing now that you’re getting up there in years, listen up – this information is for you.
In a recent post on SurvivalBlog.com, one contributor who describes himself as having recently reached his “golden years” offers some helpful tips for others like himself who probably also need to adapt their survival strategies as they age, starting with the bug out bag (BOB).
While it might be tempting to only store the bare minimum, this contributor says that he personally decided to stuff his own BOB with “way more than essentials.” While younger folks might say this individual’s BOB is too heavy, he recognizes that at his age, he won’t be “trekking 20 miles a day” like others might.
He’s also changed the way he stores emergency food, switching away from freeze-dried, 25-year shelf life options – because who needs that as a senior? Instead, he now stores a rotation of fresher foods, often from he and his wife’s personal garden, alongside bulk products like rice and beans.
Then, there’s water. While many survival resources recommend storing about one gallon per day, per person, this contributor found after a test drill that he and his wife required far more than this, which is why they decided to invest in larger storage containers, as well as rain barrels.
“As soon as funds became available, we invested in a propane heater which was not electric dependent,” he explains about a system he also purchased to heat his increased store of fresh water.
“Backup heat is a really big deal when you wake up in the middle of the night with no electricity and a house colder than a politician’s heart,” he adds.
For more survival and preparedness tips, be sure to check out Survival.news and Preparedness.news.
Elderly people know things that younger people don’t, just like younger people are capable of doing things that the elderly cannot
Medical supplies are always important, no matter your age. But what actually constitutes these supplies can change as a person ages, which is why it’s critical to take a very close look at what you have, as well as how to use it.
For this contributor, having a large supply of painkillers is key, as is having BenGay and Metamucil on hand at all time. And as far as emergency surgery goes, the elderly will have an easier time using a staple kit as opposed to a needle kit, which tends to be more difficult to use.
Younger folks might also prefer to have a stockpile of weaponry, while the elderly might do better with just one weapon – perhaps an easy-to-use rifle with a red dot sight or scope, in case poor eyesight is a factor.
Regardless of age, one’s chances of survival greatly increase when he or she builds a trustworthy “tribe” of other like-minded folks, all of whom are committed to helping one another through thick and thin. And as an elderly person, it’s important to make sure that there are at least some younger people in this tribe as well.
There are things that younger folks can do that elderly folks can’t – and vice versa. So think through the different complementary tasks that people in various age categories are capable of, and build your tribe accordingly.
I will probably mount a rifle on my hover round.
I’m putting a lift and chains on mine. Honestly the part about shtf that scares me is the medical part. I had to have a tooth cut out a while back. Oral surgery the whole shebang. I was miserable till it was over. A rotten tooth or a broken ankle would take down the best prepper.
Fortunately, you got your tooth fixed NOW. I had a similar issue years ago and had to have a tooth surgically removed. It was infected enough that my eye on the same side where the tooth was infected was turning yellow. Fortunately all is well. About three years ago now my retina for no reason went and I went 100% totally blind in the eye. Fortunately, after major surgery and about two years (yes it took that long) of rehab, I am able to see again out of the eye. Once again the positive thing about this is that at least this went now where I could get the eye fixed.
So what can we do? I get my teeth check twice a year now. I just recently had my teeth check (a few weeks ago) and dentist said he was watching some areas. In December when I go back, I plan to have him address all three areas to clean that up.
It is imperative that we address all of our issues now while we can.
Badly damage your dominate hand and try and function. I am going through that now. How do pull a slide back, change a mag on a hand gun, hold a rifle, bandage a wound? Ever try brushing your teeth with the other hand? The tribe is the best if possible.
There truly is no equal for tooth pain. I’ve bought dental extractors and have pain killers. That’s about the best I can do. There is temporary dental filling which works well on a toothache also.
There truly is no equal for tooth pain. I’ve bought dental extractors and have pain killers. That’s about the best I can do. There is temporary dental filling which works well on a toothache also.
I forgot to mention having several types of antibiotics I hope will continue to be effective against abscessed teeth.
Mr.Pickles;
If physicians and medications are not available if/when SHTF,anyone suffering from chronic illnesses and diseases are going to be extremely vulnerable..Diabetics, those with heart conditions,etc., will be in a terrible predicament..
Boomer memes, for the setting —
knowyourmeme.com/memes/old-economy-steven
quickmeme.com/Scumbag-Baby-Boomers/
Yuri Bezmenov – The Art of Subversion and Demoralization.flv
“In 1984, he gave an interview to G. Edward Griffin, who at that time was a member of the John Birch Society, an anti-communist group. In the interview, Bezmenov explained the methods used by the KGB to secretly subvert the democratic system of the United States…”
youtube.com/watch?v=n4ZxO5I-s4E
(At what date, in this country. It’s not a trick question, all the time. You can do it.) You are the civil rights generation and now, typically, play sjw for the ‘oppressed’ elderly.
From your childrens’ perspective, the freaky, daytime talkshow level of misbehavior started with who? Who showed us that? Whose house. Boomers.
… who failed to establish us, and are now becoming senile (if they ever had a filter to begin with.)
I enjoy embellishment. But, without embellishment —
Nerve damage, thx to big pharma. Oven and stove knobs twisted off, and the use of power tools and ladders. Tell concerned, fit, coordinated, adult children to p/o. Mania in the bath. Continual, excess perspiration, thx to big pharma. Deformed, gouty feet, no longer capable of walking. And, you are independent, so walk home from the doctor, in summer heat, without water. The distance is more than 10 miles. You have never been able to buy shoes for yourself, that fit. Do you want in the car. Let’s think about it.
In case of an emergency, you are counting on estranged family (but are too “fun” for us rubes. We’re cut off.) You have store employees, and church volunteers, or could reasonably be institutionalized and running from them, in case of an emergency.
I don’t see how alot of everyday pettiness was historically allowed to exist under the gun, or where there were lots of wild animals. (In some s-hole countries, they are left for the jackals.) I think that a lack of practical, objective morality was punished by govt, or nature, or it’s God. Take your pick, disabled people with an attitude.
Hahaha…that’s funny. I just spit up Ensure all over my keyboard and soiled my Depends.
When I was younger I did cross country skiing, played tennis, raced dirt bikes and generally had a good time.
Now that I’m approaching my mid-seventies I have a bad knee, a hernia, and my glasses keep getting stronger. I get in and out of my car while grunting with an occasional son of a bitch.
If the SHTF I have food for six months and a small but respectable arsenal. I own my home and here I’ll make my last stand. What’s the point of running? For me it’ll be all the same.
Well biggest change now that I’m 69. Is I’ve cut my ammo supply down to all I can shoot in the next 100 years.
Me too. You must be my brother from another mother.
65 now can’t move like I did when I was 35, but I see there are 45’s that can’t keep up with me. and looking around at Wall Mart, Kroger’s and many other places the FAT ASSES don’t stand a chance. My God there are a lot of fat folk around. Oh I get it they are stock piling food!!!!!!
Hell! I had always planned to shoot and scoot any way I just won’t scoot as fast. I’ll just have to shoot them further out.
Sgt.
I’m with you %100. even in my mid 40’s, I can still outrun, outgun, and outfight most people half my age. I may not be as quick reflexed as I once was, but at my age, I have a considerable depth of experience that more than makes up for it. You can do alot to exploit the mind of the testosterone-poisoned 18yo in a fight.
For example, I’m smart enough not to be goaded into going toe-to-toe but do fight on my terms.
Not bluster, just constant, daily training and experience.
I’m heading into a part of my life where I’m training the kids and grandkids, and I’m completely ok with that.
Not all elderly people are smart. Many are still doing stupid things. My father is one of those people. Could never figure out you have x number of dollars coming in and can only spend x number of dollars every month. Always buys more than he can afford and just a pathetic excuse for a human being. Makes 60,00 a year off social security and still had his house foreclosed on (payment was only $650). By the time I found out about it there was nothing I could do and I sure as hell wasn’t going to give him money. Especially since growing up we had no running water, food, heat, moved too many times to count for non payment of rent and all this on a yearly salary of about 80,000 – 100,000 in the seventies and eighties.
There are also tactical canes/staffs to use in areas where firearms aren’t permitted. Here are a couple of sites showing what they can do.
ht tps://americancaneselfdefense.com/
ht tps://www.canemasters.com/
These are no joke serious self-defense tools. They look nice and the assorted carvings all have a purpose. A former coworker purchased one and said the training was pretty good; nice accolade from a retired military guy.
I’ve been prepping for decades. One facet of prepping is planning for family.
It includes training, knowledge, attitude.
One facet not discussed, have a will, pass firearms and preps on to responsible young ones. The Democrats won’t admit it but hidden in gun control bills banning private sales will be tracking of inherited firearms. Right now there are tens of millions of firearms that are completely unknown, and many more that will be passed on in the coming decades.
Firearms: a lighter easier to operate firearm may be a necessity as you get older. Sometimes it may be temporary disabilities. Have an appropriate alternate firearm. I love my 12-gauge, but I have been shopping for a great 20-gauge. It would be perfect for training younger ones and anyone with reduced physical strength, plus the ammo is much lighter, effectiveness at close range is not an issue. Consider also low recoil, or subsonic ammo for existing weapons, it reduces recoil and often improves accuracy and again is better for training the next generation.
Last thought, the older I get the more I have to fight for. For me the newest young ones are more valuable to me than precious metals in a depression.
Ok, now I have to go take a nap…. And don’t forget to add gas-X to your preps, you old farts don’t want to give your position away.
Hey Granpa, I have a BIC lighter that’s out of gas, but the flint still sparks, come on over and aim your butt at the tinder. We’ll have a warm fire burning in no time……
^^^^^^^this
Meh…if you need pain pills you likely have a chronic un treaed/ uniagnosed issue. (think lyme / typhus).
Get a sword cane…a good one.
Get a lighter pistol (ppk , sig suaur 380).
Keep you foodand water preps up…and yes propane/lng is king for offgrid, and solar is Queen ( been there done that).
Train the next generation…..then prepare for the ultimae bug out toi the next world. 😉