Emergencies are always stressful, so it helps to be as prepared for them as you possibly can be. When it comes to our senior loved ones, hospitalisations can be a fact of life, so to make any potential emergency that little bit less stressful, we recommend you and your family prepare for a senior emergency with a simple checklist so that if something does happen, whoever picks up the phone will know what to do.
Is your family prepared for a senior care emergency? If you know a senior who is living alone, it is important to be prepared for a sudden emergency, such as a fall or other accident in the home. Furthermore, it is important that anyone who spends time with your senior loved one (neighbours, friends, other family members) are aware of the emergency process and will be prepared to react.
We recommend using a checklist and notifying everyone relevant of its existence and location. It should include:
- The medications that your senior loved one is taking.
- Access, or how to get quick access, to their home.
- All relevant numbers next to the phone (both for you, and for your senior loved one, if they are able to call for help)
- Where your senior loved one’s financial information or insurance information is stored.
- A record of any relevant medical information that could be important.
- In some cases, a “hospital bag” is a good item to keep by the door. This bag can include things like your senior loved one’s glasses, housecoat/slippers, a book, phone charger, etc.
It is a very simple checklist, but could be crucial one day. Make sure everyone in your family – including the senior loved one you care for – knows the steps in case of any emergency. For additional help to prepare for a senior emergency, contact Serenity Home Care, the leading provider of Sidney home care services. We’re pleased to provide expert care in the surrounding areas as well; contact us to see if our services are available in your neighbourhood.