10 Details a Caregiver Should Know About Their Older Adult

Glamaris Valentín Cameron/ migentegrande.com

The first time I accompanied my parents to run an errand, I was determined to get it done quickly. Several hours later, I left so stressed out that I said, “never again.” It turns out that I didn’t know any information about my parents and had to keep asking them, and even worse, I had to call my brother to check if he knew. During emergency situations, my memory failed me, and I went through some bad experiences. I gradually gathered the necessary information from my parents to survive as a caregiver at doctor’s appointments, pharmacies, and to complete other errands. I suggest you make a list of the following information and only share it with people you trust. Keep a digital copy of this list on your smartphone in case of an emergency. Never include social security numbers; you should memorize these numbers.

My survival kit includes the following:

1.       Photo ID

It sounds simple, but your older adult will never give up their license for you to carry in your wallet. The first thing I did was take pictures of both mom and dad’s driver’s licenses. Then, we checked if either of them had additional photo IDs. In my mom’s case, she gave me a government ID for taking the bus that she never uses. In my dad’s case, we got an ID from Veterans Hospital. The ID should not be expired. Keep in mind that discount store IDs do not count, even if they have a photo of your family member.

2.       Health plan card

Taking a picture of both sides of a health plan card will save you time. Unlike the photo ID, if your older adult’s health plan card is expired, it can be used in some circumstances. It turns out that with many insurance companies, the user’s contract number does not change from year to year, even if the older adult changes coverage. I carry health plan cards from previous years, plus the current card’s photo.

3.       Full address

You will be asked for your older adults’ physical and mailing address when they are not around to answer. Take a picture of their water or electric bill so you don’t make a mistake. In my case, I always get confused with the zip code.

4.       Email

Fortunately for caregivers, we are already receiving test and lab results virtually. Identify or create an email address for your older adults. Be mindful that you will be the administrator of the account.

5.       Details of the primary care physician

When an older adult is active and healthy, they visit their primary care physician a couple of times a year and their family probably doesn’t even know the physician’s name. As an older adult’s health becomes more complicated, the primary care physician becomes the one who confirms diagnoses, medications, lifestyle changes, and support equipment such as a cane and special shoes. Knowing their full name and office address is vital to our older adults’ health care efforts.

6.       Preferred hospital

I didn’t know which hospital my dad preferred until it was too late. Even if your older adult is in perfect health, ask the primary care physician to which hospital you should take your family member in case of an emergency. In my dad’s case, his doctor had privileges at a specific hospital, so taking him to this health center guaranteed that his treatments would continue without any problems. In my mom’s case, her doctor didn’t see patients in hospitals, so they both selected the most appropriate hospital for her. If something happened, our family already knew in which hospital my mom would feel safer.

7.       Drug and allergy list

I can assure you that you’ll be asked for this list over and over again. At first, I naively dictated it from memory. When drug and dose changes began, my mom prepared updated lists. In case of emergencies, I prefer to take the bottles with me since each one has the name of the prescribing doctor and the exact dose. I always include supplements and vitamins. Review the allergy list with several family members; your older adults may be allergic to a drug you don’t know about.

8.       History of medical conditions

I never thought it was necessary to have a list of my dad’s conditions. I was the model caregiver, I attended every doctor’s appointment, and made sure I understood his diagnoses. When it was time for me to repeat the name of one of my dad’s hematologic conditions, I blanked out and became frustrated. I knew that this information was very important and not having it at hand could put my dad’s health at risk.

9.       History of hospitalizations

In my parents’ case, hospitalizations are scarce, but I always forget some of them anyway. In addition to writing down the conditions that brought them to the hospital, your list must also include how they reacted to anesthesia, medications, or long periods of bed rest.

10. Phone numbers of formal caregivers and other family members or friends

Add other family members’ phone numbers to the list and those of people who provide services to your older adults. Remember that, with smartphones, we do not know phone numbers by heart and if you run out of battery, you’re left pretty isolated.

Review your list every three months. It is better to err on the side of caution than to suffer from stress. The author is a journalist, television producer, and editor of the migentegrande.com webpage, which offers advice for the family members and caregivers of older adults in Puerto Rico. She also build a digital directive of health and quality of life services for our elderly. Look for more information on Facebook and YouTube under Mi Gente Grande and become a part of this community of caregivers. For more information, write us at info@migentegrande.com.