by stephanie on February 23, 2010
written by: Stephanie Erickson, MSW, PSW, LCSW
If you have aging parents, you are most likely concerned about their physical, emotional and cognitive health. As your parents get older, they will have medical appointment after medical appointment with a variety of medical professionals including doctors, nurses, social workers, physiotherapists, etc. Your parents may have difficulty remembering the details of each of these appointments, as one specialist blends into another.
It is important for you to keep track of the dates and times of the appointments in order to remind and follow up with your parents. However, this is not the only information you need to monitor. The following list contains suggestions on how to record the essential details of your parents’ health so in case of an emergency or hospitalization, you have their full medical history available.
- Buy a journal or make an excel spreadsheet that records all of the names, addresses, phone numbers and areas of specialty of each of your parents’ physicians and other health care professionals with whom they have contact.
- Include the diagnosis or problem treated by each of these health professionals, as well as the medication(s) prescribed (dose, times of day, etc.)
- Document the emergency procedure to contact each of these physicians in a time of crisis as well as their normal office/clinic hours.
- Encourage your parents to sign a Consent to Release Information with each professional so you have the legal authority to exchange information. (See our website for a free form).
- Ask your parents to bring a list of questions and concerns to each appointment and to document the answers. Include your questions on this list.
- Document the pharmacy name and location for each medication prescribed so you can discuss any medication concerns or interactions with the pharmacist. Make sure your parents sign a Consent to Release Information at each pharmacy.
- If possible, use only one pharmacy for all of your parents’ prescriptions for better monitoring by a pharmacist of possible drug interations.
- Make a list of all medical diagnosis, medications, surgical history, current treatment regimes, and treating physicians and ask your parents to keep this list in his or her wallet or purse in the case of an emergency. Place a copy of this form on the refrigerator and near each phone in their home.
- Encourage your parents to draft a Mandate, Power of Attorney and/or Living Will so they will be ensured you can act on their behalf if necessary.
The above information is the basic information needed to assist your parents with their overall health. It is equally important to organize all of their personal and financial affairs to ensure that you can provide comprehensive support in all aspects of their life when the time approaches.
For more information or for organizing tools, documents and tips for medical, financial and personal affairs, see our website e-store.
by stephanie on February 15, 2010
Written by: Stephanie Erickson, MSW, PSW, LCSW
As our parents age, it becomes harder and harder to feel secure that they are safe and healthy in their home. This becomes even more difficult if we do not live nearby and are unable to “pop in” to make sure they are okay. We are left to rely on their self-report of their situation.
If our parents have memory problems, we wonder if they are accurately reporting what is happening. We may also believe that they are minimizing their struggles for fear that they will be forced out of their home. Even if our parents live in senior’s community, assisted residence or full care facility, we still worry if they are getting all the care and attention they need.
There are some things we can do from a distance to increase our full understanding of their situation, to improve the communication we have with them, and to manage the risks inherent in long distance (and close distance) caregiving. All of these suggestions can be done via the internet and phone.
- Ask your parent to sign a consent to release information from all of their health care providers so that you can gather collateral information about their functioning. Get a list of the names and phone numbers of these individuals.
- Encourage your parent to complete a power of attorney at all of their financial institutions so you can monitor their management of money. Make sure to tell them that you do not plan on taking over; you just want to oversee to ensure they are not being taken advantage of by another and if they have questions, you can assist them.
- Encourage your parent to draft a Mandate/Living Will/Durable Power of Attorney for Health Care so you have the legal authority to make decisions and manage their finances if they become unable to do so.
- Ask your parent to list all of their utility providers, their mortgage carrier, car insurance, etc. and account numbers and to give these facilities authorization to share information with you so if they are confused about their accounts, you can assist them. (See our website for a complete list).
- Arrange for automatic bill pay where applicable.
- Ask your parents for the location of all important documents (power of attorney, birth certificate, deeds, etc.).
- Obtain LifeLine, Medic Alert, or another type of safety system so that your parent can access help if he/she falls or has another emergency.
- Obtain a list of individuals nearby who could stop by your parents’ home if you have an immediate concern (neighbor, friend, relative, etc.)
- Obtain a complete and updated list of all medications, prescribed and over-the-counter.
- During a visit to your parents, conduct a home safety assessment and make all necessary modifications to the home. (See our website for a complete list of areas to observe).
- Prepare a list of private and community agencies that are available to make visits to your parents for future or immediate reference.
- If your parent is at a facility, get the names, phone numbers, and emails of at least two professional staff members (nurse, social worker, etc.) and make contact with them periodically to foster an on-going relationship.
- If you can afford it, arrange for a monthly visit from a social worker or nurse to monitor your parents’ safety and report back to you. The money spent will be worth the peace of mind and may prevent major crises.
- Begin a journal of all of the above information, as well as on-going updates about your impressions of their functioning, including specific examples (i.e., my mom called me again to ask about her phone bill; I noticed she has lost weight since our last visit, etc.).
- Monitor the following when you visit: Physical appearance and hygiene, medication administration habits, ambulation risks and falls, home cleanliness and organization, food acquisition and preparation, driving, memory loss, ability to express thoughts, social interaction or isolation, judgment, decision-making, etc.)
For further information and more detailed toolkits that outline each of the above areas in more detail, please refer to our website. http://www.ericksonresource.com/estore/
by stephanie on February 8, 2010
Written by: Stephanie Erickson, MSW, PSW, LCSW
It is very scary to know that our parents are living alone in their home as they begin to lose physical and cognitive functioning. We want to respect their decision to remain autonomous at home for as long as possible so we search for ways to make this happen. The following is a complete list of all of the areas in your home that present a danger to your parent or loved one, outlines the factors that increase risk and offers concrete suggestions to reduce the identified risks.
Emergency Preparation:
- Get the name of neighbor/friend/relative and phone number to contact in the case of an emergency and you are not able to get to your loved one’s home.
- Post your name and phone number next to every phone AND give this information to AT LEAST one neighbor/friend.
- Obtain the name of a community member, social worker, other professional to contact in the case of an emergency and/or regular updates.
- Give an extra key to a neighbor or friend, have an extra key for yourself, and hide one outside the home (if you feel comfortable) so someone can gain access to the home in an emergency.
- Register with Medic-Alert or LifeLine and get a bracelet for your parent so he/she can access help if there is a fall. See our website under Resources for a link.
- Make sure all legal documents (power of attorney, mandates in the case of incapacity, etc. are updated and complete).
Risk Factors for a Fall:
- Over 75 years old
- Living alone
- Housebound
- Use of cane/walker
- Previous falls
- Acute illness, chronic conditions, tremors (neurological disorders)
- Multiple medications
- Cognitive impairment
- Vision and hearing problems
- Difficulty sitting/standing from a chair/bed
- Foot problems
- Alcohol/drug use
- Poor nutrition
- Balance/equilibrium problems
Bathroom Safety:
- Install grab bars in the bathtub or shower and by the toilet
- Use rubber mats in the bathtub or shower
- Use a shower chair or bench
- Take up floor mats when the bathtub or shower is not in use
- Install a raised toilet seat
- Remove tub and install a shower with a minimal step-up
- Place a chair in shower stall
- Use a telephone shower head
Kitchen Safety:
- Use automatic tea pot
- Remove rugs without a non-stick service
- Place frequently used pots and pans at waist level to minimize bending and stretching
- Use a microwave to reduce use of oven/stove
- Disconnect stove/oven fuses if there are memory impairments and it has been left turned on in the past
Outdoor Safety:
- Repair cracked sidewalks
- Install handrails on stairs and steps or install a ramp
- Trim shrubbery along the pathway to the home
- Install adequate lighting by doorways and along walkways leading to doors
Living Space Safety:
- Remove throw rugs, or tape down to secure
- Secure carpet edges
- Avoid visually distracting patterns on flooring/carpets
- Mark transitions from carpet to flooring with a different color paint/stripe
- Remove low furniture and chairs that are too low to get up/down
- Remove objects on the floor
- Reduce clutter
- Remove cords and wires on the floor
- Avoid floor wax or use nonskid wax
- Ensure the telephone can be reach while laying on the floor
Stair Safety:
- Install hand rails on both sides of staircases at elbow height
- Make sure an adult can wrap their hand completely around the handrail
- Attach them securely to walls or posts
- Secure carpet on treads of stairs
- Install light switches at the top/bottom of stairways
- Do not reduce lighting in stairways; in fact, increase the lighting
- Do not place rugs at the top/bottom of stairs
- Leave one hand free to hold the handrail when carrying objects
- Check lighting for adequate illumination at night, especially in the pathway to the bathroom and on stairs
General safety:
- Wear shoes or slippers that fit properly and have a non-slip sole
- Remove reading glasses when walking up/down stairs
- Install a telephone on every level of the home, especially in the bedroom, kitchen, and bathroom
- Install a bathroom on each floor
- Understand side-effects of medications, such as dizziness
- Avoid alcohol
- Avoid carrying large or heavy objects, such as laundry baskets
- Get up slowly from a sitting or laying position; sit on the side of the bed before rising
- Wear clothing with an elastic waistband for easy removal
For further information, please contact Erickson Resource Group at www.ericksonresource.com