In the Blink of an Eye

Two questions:

1. Exactly what day and time is your parent going to forget who they are?

2. Exactly what day and time will your parent be seriously injured in a car accident, be unconscious and unable to answer any of the emergency room doctor’s questions?

Your caregiving journey may not begin during a gradual decline in your parent’s cognitive or physical capabilities. Instead, it can start suddenly — in the blink of an eye — because of a car accident, a stroke, a heart attack or another medical emergency.

The more medical information you can give to the EMTs and emergency room doctors, the faster they can provide the right kind of care for your parent. Without that information, his/her doctors are just guessing about what might be appropriate. For example, I have an extremely severe reaction to an antibiotic that’s commonly given to patients following surgery.

Don’t wait until a medical emergency occurs. Begin NOW to collect medical information about your parent. Here’s a quick rundown of what you’ll need, at a minimum:

• Your parent’s date of birth and Social Security number. You’ll need this information to access many services.

• Make sure your parent always carries their insurance cards in their purse or wallet. If s/he is 65 or older:
  • Medicare card;
  • Medicare prescription drug card; and
  • Supplemental insurance card

• The names, phone numbers and addresses of your parent’s doctors and pharmacy.

• A list of all medications (prescription drugs, over-the-counter drugs such as aspirin, antacids, herbal remedies, nutritional supplements — even daily multi-vitamins), dosage amounts and instructions for taking them (time of day, with food or between meals, etc.)

• A list of all food and medication allergies; and

• A complete health history of your parent’s major illnesses and medical conditions. If possible, include the same information for your loved one’s parents, brothers and sisters.

Take this information with you every time you go with your parent to visit a doctor, go to the emergency room, be admitted into a hospital, assisted living facility, nursing home or visits any other type of medical facility.

I keep my records and my wife’s records in separate Word documents on my laptop computer. They are easy to update after every medical appointment and to print out a copy for each new medical appointment.

Here’s what a shortened version of mine looks like (click on “Mike’s Form” in blue after the next paragraph). For a more comprehensive list of information that should be included, click on the word “Outline” that’s in blue after the next paragraph.

Don’t worry about filing in all of the information before your next visit with your parent, but do complete it as soon as you can. You never know what specific information will be the most important in an emergency.

Michael R. Gamble
6292 Aventura Drive
Sarasota, FL 34241-9447
941-921-7060

Medications:
Spiriva Handihaler — Dr. xxxx — 1 capsule (18 mcg tiotropium bromide powder) per day — mild COPD (Emphysema).
Aspirin — 325mg — Dr. xxxy — 1 tablet per day (blood thinner)
Vitamin B-12 — Dr. xxxz — 1,000mg tablet daily with breakfast — to lower LDL cholesterol.
Fish Oil — 1,200mg — Dr. xxxz — 3 capsules per day (1 per meal) — to raise HDL and lower triglycerides.

Hospitalizations:
2012 (12/12) — Atrial Flutter Cardiac Ablation — Dr. xxyy — xxxx Memorial Hospital (discharged 12/13)

Chronic Medical Conditions:
Ongoing — Very Sensitive Gag Reflex to Intubation
2005 — Mild COPD / Emphysema diagnosed — Dr. xxzz — 2/15 chest xray, xxxx Hospital — 6/2 CAT scan, xxxx Radiology

Other Medical Conditions / Surgeries / Tests:
2012 (11/19) — Atrial Fibrillation — Dr. xxxy
2011 — Hernia (Inguinal) repaired surgically (right side)

Allergies / Adverse Reactions to Medications:
Duricef (antibiotic) — Intense chills, diarrhea, abdominal cramps, frequent urination

Immunizations:
Flu (Oct 2013), Pneumonia (Nov 2012)

NO CLOSED MRI to be done.

At the top of the form: Your parent’s name and current address

Personal Medical History:

• Medications (including prescriptions, over-the-counter medications, vitamins and other supplements)
  • name
  • dosage
  • take with food or between meals?
  • time of day to take
  • prescribing doctor’s name (if applicable)
  • purpose of medication

• Hospitalizations
  • date (start with the most recent date)
  • reason for hospitalization
  • name of hospital
  • admitting physician’s name

• Chronic Medical Conditions
  • date of diagnosis (start with the most recent date)
  • diagnosing physician
  • current status (active, in remission, etc.)

• Other Medical Conditions / Surgeries / Tests (ncluding xrays, CT scans and MRIs)
  • date (start with the most recent date)
  • name of condition, surgery, test
  • name of physician
  • results

• Allergies / Adverse Reactions to Medications
  • for allergies (including food allergies), describe
  • for medications, name and description of adverse reaction

• Immunizations – Flu, Pneumonia, Shingles, Tetanus, etc.
  • name of immunization
  • date of most recent

Emergency Contacts

Full Name
Street Address, City, State, Zip
Home Phone
Smart Phone ICE (Have “In Case of Emergency” numbers been set up/)

Physicians and Pharmacy

Full Name and Medical Specialty
Street Address, City, State, Zip
Office Phone
Fax Number

Family Medical History (Mother, Father, Brother(s), Sister(s), Children,
Aunt(s), Uncle(s):

• First Name
• Relationship
• If Alive
  • age now
  • major health conditions
• If Dead
  • age at death
  • cause of death
  • major health conditions

Any other relevant medical information, e.g., No CLOSED MRI to be done.

How to Talk to Your Parent(s) about gathering their Personal Medical Information before something tragic happens.

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