Maintain
a care notebook. Keep a file of your
parents’ medical records, including test results, current medications,
allergies, insurance coverage and Social Security numbers, along with their
physicians’ contact information. Collect
e-mail addresses and phone numbers for neighbors and close friends, as well as
the phone number for the nearest hospital.
Develop
a relationship with your parents’ doctors. Doctors appreciate the input when adult daughters or sons accompany
their parents to office visits, especially when they arrive with current
medication lists and knowledge of medical issues. If possible, schedule your
parents’ appointments while you’re visiting. To avoid future frustration, ask
your parents to sign privacy releases giving their doctors authorization to
speak with you by phone regarding their care.
Set up
an alert system. If your parent lives
alone, talk with him or her about an electronic alert system for emergencies. These systems, typically light-weight devices worn around the neck or wrist,
require only a push of a button to generate an automatic call to summon
emergency help. You might also want to arrange a daily check-in call or e-mail
message.
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