Pack Your Bag!
Packing your bags ahead of time is one trick that works for many caregivers. Fill a gym bag with items you both will need in the event of an unexpected trip to the emergency room. Here's what to include:
- Copies of the Healthcare Power of Attorney
- List of current medications. Be sure to include dosage and frequency, and any over-the-counter medications
- List of allergies, including to drugs and food. Make sure the list includes any medications that have caused a bad reaction in the past
- List of your loved one's doctors, specialists, and other healthcare providers, along with contact information
- List of friends/neighbors/family members you need to contact to make arrangements (e.g. someone to pick up your children from school, feed the dog, etc.)
- Copies of insurance cards including Medicare
- Extra pair of sweat pants
- Extra Depends/adult briefs (some ERs don’t have adult briefs in their supply room)
- Change for vending machines
- Snack size packages of crackers and peanut butter, etc.
- Books or magazines
- Extra sweaters, one for you, too!
Create a badge that identifies you as POA and caregiver. That will keep you from having to identify yourself every time some new staff member walks into the room.
Pre-pack your gym bag and keep it in a convenient place, such as the trunk of your car or next to the back door of your house. Place it somewhere handy--and hope you never have to use it.
Questions about an elderly loved one's care? Takacs McGinnis Elder Care Law may be able to help. Just give us a call at 615.824.2571.