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Is the Elder in your family prepared for an emergency? What kind of emergency? How do we become prepared?
We have created this list, “Emergency Preparedness: 3 Tips to Get You Started,” to help you become more prepared for the inevitable medical emergency that might require EMT intervention or a trip to the Emergency Room/Urgent Care Setting.
These three tips are only highlighted points in the overall comprehensive process: to keep elders safe, well protected, and ready for a medical emergency. There are many other important considerations in this process, among them: Home Safety and Reducing Risk for Falls and Injury.
Please contact us if you would like a professional consultation regarding these topics or any that are of concern to you and your family. Our Licensed Nurses specialize in Emergency Preparedness and are ready to help you navigate this stage of life.
TIP 1: Prepare an “Emergency Document” with all pertinent information
• Name, Address, Phone, Date of Birth, Primary Care MD & All Specialists Contact Info • Health Care Proxy & Emergency Contact names and contact info • Current and Past Medical Diagnoses, Medications, and known Allergies
TIP 2: If there is not a Health Care Proxy selection and corresponding document, download the forms from molst-ma.org.
• Your Health Care Proxy is an individual who you select to make medical decisions for you if you are unable to make them for yourself.
• You may select a Primary Agent (the person who makes the decisions first) and an Alternate Agent (who makes decisions if the primary person is unwilling or unable).
• This document is witnessed by two individuals who are not named on the document anywhere else. • A copy of this completed document should be: kept with the Emergency Document mentioned
above, provided to all physicians, attorneys, and family members as appropriate.
TIP 3: There are many difficult conversations that take place as a loved one ages and their independence is compromised.
• Discussions about what kind of care they want, and how much medical intervention they want for existing conditions or illnesses that may happen in the future.
• A good starting point is to ask the question, “What does Quality of Life mean to you?” • As a Proxy for your loved one, it might be your job one day to make difficult decisions, and
clarifying what your loved one wants themselves, so you can honor those requests, is imperative.
Emergency Preparedness: 3 Tips to Get You Started
8 Cherry Street, Danvers, MA 01923. Tel 978.500.5161 AberdeenHomeCareInc.com
Specializing in Private Duty Home Care Since 2001
If you find this process difficult, don’t know where to begin, or need some guidance along the way, Aberdeen can help.
CONTACT US
