“I don’t feel well.” Those four words can mean very different things depending on who says them — from “I ate too much at dinner” to “I’m having chest pain.” When it’s your aging parent speaking, it sometimes means there’s something seriously wrong.
Aging is a fact of life and it affects all families. As adult children, when imagining our parents as seniors, we may not fully comprehend the extent to which their aging will affect them or how it will affect us. Indeed, if they are already seniors and still in good health and living independently we may not feel any dramatic changes or concerns. However, the time does come when effects of aging become more evident and long-term care may be needed.
Caring for an older parent can be challenging. Living far away from that parent can make it even more difficult. The key is to have a strategy in place that takes into account any emergencies.
Preparing for a medical emergency for your elderly parents gives you peace of mind even when you are far away. The following steps can help make sure your parents get the care they need even when you\’re not close by.
Check-in often.
Regular phone conversations are a good way to stay connected despite being far away from a parent. Smartphones and computers make video chats possible, too. However, talks on the phone might not be the best way to truly know how a parent is doing. It can be easy to minimize problems when talking on the phone. It can be hard to tell if things are really going as well as they say.
Be your parent’s advocate with doctors.
As parents grow older, their adult children often need to play a more active role in their healthcare. Ask your parents to schedule doctor visits when you\’re in town. Emergency Response Africa has recommended Emergency Ready Hospitals near you that could serve this purpose. Do your homework and prepare questions for each doctor. However, be respectful of your parents. Resist talking over them at the appointments. Together with your mom or dad, create a list of items to discuss during the appointment.
Depending on your parent\’s health status, you might ask if the doctor can give you regular updates by email or phone.
What if you don’t live nearby?
Don’t wait until there’s an emergency to prepare. Subscribe to ERA Emergency Proof Plan: This plan includes all the benefits of the Emergency Ready plan plus a preventive health check and dispatching of First Responder and ambulances. This plan provides end-to-end care in any medical emergency, offering maximum peace of mind and no surprise expenses.
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Prepare for emergencies.
One of the greatest fears of long-distance caregivers is not being at a parent\’s side in an emergency. Taking steps to be prepared for such an event can give you peace of mind. It also ensures that your mom or dad gets immediate attention.
1. Create a contact list.
You, your parents, your relatives, and any caregivers should have a copy of this list. We at ERA require this contact(s) as well. Ensure you include phone numbers for you as well as all doctors, labs, pharmacies, medical centers, friends, neighbors and anyone else who might be able to help in an emergency. Find out what hospital your parents prefer, and put that on the list, and if your parent doesn\’t have any preference we have our list of verified emergency-ready hospitals we could recommend to you at no cost at all. During any emergencies, our team of professional first responders would ensure these individuals are promptly contacted while your parents are taken to the verified emergency ready hospitals, through the fastest route promptly while ensuring they get the urgent attention necessary for their wellbeing.
Finally, if your parents have a mobile phone, kindly save ERA’s toll-free number under “Emergency Number” and also list the most important contacts under ICE, which stands for \”in case of emergency.\” Follow it with a name or description. For instance, contact information might read \”ICE cardiologist.\”. Then, any caregiver can use your parent\’s phone to call for help if something serious occurs.
2. Organize all vital information. Put everything in one folder. Include:
- A list of all medications. Include the dose, a physical description of the medicine (for instance, the color, size, and numbers on a pill), and how often it\’s taken.
- An overview of medical history. Note any medical devices used and procedures your parents have had.
- Allergies include foods and medications.
- A copy of the contact list.
- Copies of important legal documents including advance directives.
- Insurance information, such as Medicare and any supplemental insurance.
You might include this folder as part of an emergency travel kit of things your parents would want during a hospital stay. Include clothing and travel-size toiletries. This way, no one will have to scramble to gather essentials in an emergency.
3. Agree on what constitutes an emergency.
Some seniors may be reluctant to seek emergency help that takes them away from their homes. But, getting medical care early on can help avoid more serious, long-term problems.
Explain to them the warning signs that emergency care may be necessary. And, persuade your parents to agree to seek help if those signs are present. For instance, fainting, heavy bleeding, severe pain, excessive vomiting, and shortness of breath warrant a trip to the hospital.
Ask your parent\’s doctor if there are other symptoms to watch for. Also, make sure your parents understand these symptoms merit a call to ERA for an ambulance. A sick parent should not try to drive or even have their spouse drive them to the hospital.
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Things to Consider
The well-being of our parents is our ultimate wish as they age and live out the last years of their lives. Eldercare means considering a family member’s emotional, mental, and physical well-being.
Activities of Daily Living (known as ADLs)
Essentials necessary to the dignity and physical and emotional well-being of our elderly parents are to ensure their daily living requirements are met effectively. The basic ADL activities are typically listed as:
- Self-feeding
- Functional Mobility
- (moving while performing activities, getting in and out of bed, in and out of a chair)
- Dressing
- Bathing or Showering
- Personal Hygiene
- (includes brushing/styling hair, shaving, grooming activities)
- Toilet Hygiene
- (includes getting to the toilet, self-cleaning, getting up from the toilet)
If they have impaired mobility and health issues that make it difficult or impossible for them to take care of these ADLs independently then you need to find them the appropriate help. Whether it’s providing care (you or someone else who is qualified) or investing in the proper equipment and accessories to help them continue doing daily tasks independently, be aware that there are many choices and options available.
Instrumental Activities of Daily Living (IADLs)
Other types of daily living activities, not necessarily fundamental, but related to independent functioning are called instrumental activities of daily living (IADLs). IADLs most often refer to the following types of activities with long-term care:
- Cooking and Preparing Meals
- Cleaning and Maintaining the Home
- Shopping and Buying Necessities
- Running Errands
- Managing Money and Paying Bills
- Speaking or Communicating on the Phone or Through Other Devices
- Taking Prescribed Medications
Again, it’s important to the overall well-being of elderly parents that their IADLs are taken care of effectively and consistently. If there are obstacles or difficulties with doing these tasks alone, there is help. Whether it’s you, other siblings, relatives or friends that help out, or even professional caregivers, arranging help is possible. Other sources of help include technological devices that can provide assistance or even various community services geared at helping seniors. Taking an honest look at where an elderly parent needs support is the first step and then assessing all the possible solutions in order to get them the help they need.
Contact us at the Emergency Response Africa (ERA) for more information by calling our toll free number: 0 8000 2255 372 or by emailing us at contact@emergencyresponseafrica.com
