Caring for an aging parent, spouse or other family member presents many challenges for the caregiver, especially when a crisis hits and the responsibilities of care giving descend upon you unexpectedly. One of those challenges is compiling a medical history record.
Depending on the care receivers needs this may be a simple list on a note tablet or an extensive personal health record. Again depending upon the need, other precautions such as a medical alert bracelet or even a home medical monitoring service may be in order.
Personal health records
Because many older adults take several medications at one time, it is possible that these drugs can interact with one another and be a danger. Often more than one doctor is prescribing medications, it is important to keep each doctor aware of all the drugs that are being taken or prescribed by other physicians. If several medications are being taken at different times through the day, it may be helpful to develop a separate list to assist you with daily medications. Keeping track of all this information can be difficult but with some preparation it can become more manageable.
Caregivers can maintain a Personal Health Record as an ongoing record of the care receivers service providers, medications and procedures. It is also a way to provide information between the many providers and services that help care for a child or family. Healthcare professionals recommend that caregivers also bring this record to all medical appointments.
And an easily accessible health record can be especially important when a substitute caregiver occasionally takes your place.
Medical Alert IDs
Anyone with special medical needs should always wear or carry the appropriate emergency information. If one or two words are all that's needed to describe a condition or alert medics to special needs then a Medical ID bracelet may be appropriate.
Where more information must be available, the new USB flash drive medical alert from MedicTag can carry medications, doctors, existing conditions, allergies, emergency contacts and much more.
Home Medical Alarms
A medical alarm is an alarm system designed to alert someone that you require urgent attention. It may call a neighbor or family member, or summon emergency medical personnel through a call monitoring center. Another term for a medical alarm is PERS or Personal Emergency Response System.
Typical systems have a wireless pendant or transmitter that can be activated in an emergency. When the medical alarm is activated, the signal is transmitted to an alarm monitoring company's central station, emergency services agency or other programmed phone numbers. Medical personnel are then dispatched to the site.
Any one or combination of these solutions may be appropriate for your situation. Each of them has a place in a caregivers toolbox and HOPEFULLY will make their task a little easier while adding a measure of safety for the care receiver.
Your doctors, pharmacists and even local EMS personnel can help you determine the records you need to keep and the level of precautions necessary but it is better to have to much than not enough - Oh, and tomorrow is not soon enough. The time to get started on it is NOW.
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