Elderly parents - information for emergencies
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Gather the information you need now, so that if your parent is injured, you can properly seek medical care for them. Do you know the names of their physicians? How about the medications they take? Following is a list of information to gather now, and keep handy in case of an emergency with an aging parent.
- Advance directives – legal document about health care decisions, such as life support and resuscitation efforts
- Allergies – list of medicine, and other allergies
- Financial payment – does your parent pay at each visit, or get billed? Are they caught up with medical expense payments?
- Get to know their physicians. Go to medical appointments with them
- HIPAA and privacy – Fill out forms that allow you to talk to your parent’s doctor, nurse and insurance company.
- Insurance information – get a copy of their card, provider and policy numbers. Understand coverage.
- Lifestyle – alcohol or tobacco usage?
- Major medical problems – such as asthma, diabetes, heart disease
- Medical summary – type up a summary of the items on this list and keep with you, and with your parent
- Medications – list of names, dosages, purpose. Does your parent use blood thinners?
- Minor medical concerns & ailments – what else bothers your parent’s health?
- Other insurance – are there other insurance policies in place that cover nursing home, vision, dental, home health, chiropractic or other supplemental purposes?
- Physician’s names, phone numbers, and type of doctor – list all
- Religious beliefs that effect medical decisions, if any
- Surgery history – list medical surgeries and procedures
- Upcoming appointments
