As your senior loved one grows older, keeping up with his or her medical information becomes more important than ever. You need to have your parent’s health-related documents on hand for every doctor, dentist, hospital, and pharmacy trip you make. Here are a few simple ways you can keep track of your loved one’s medical information.
Keep a Master Binder with Labeled Dividers
Information on prescriptions, allergies, diseases, previous surgeries, symptoms, and doctors’ names are some of the many documents you’ll need to keep. A good way to organize all these documents is to keep a binder with labeled dividers. Think of the binder as a master copy, and use dividers and labels to separate each type of information. Make sure the binder has space to add paperwork as necessary, and update it regularly.
Maintaining proper medical information is important for older adults with serious health issues. If your senior loved one has been diagnosed with a serious condition and needs help with tasks like meal prep, transportation, bathing, and grooming, reach out to Assisting Hands Home Care, a leading provider of at-home care families can trust. We also offer comprehensive care for seniors with dementia, Alzheimer’s, and Parkinson’s.
Make Copies of All Important Documents
Once you have all of the information in a central place, make copies for each of your siblings, children, and anyone else who helps you take care of your loved one. Consider keeping a copy in a safe deposit box or another location for safekeeping, and make new copies every few months or when your loved one goes through a major medical procedure.
Consider Using a Spreadsheet
Caregivers often face difficulty making sure the rest of the family has updated access to their loved one’s health information. Consider keeping a spreadsheet or other cloud-based document that you and your family members can access. You can also use the document to communicate and keep notes about other caregiving-related topics. Make sure you only share the information with people you trust.
Updated medical information and attentive family members are just two of the many things older adults need to enjoy a high quality of life. For many seniors in Arlington, VA, live-in care is an essential component of aging in place safely and comfortably. However, it’s important for them to have caregivers they can trust and rely on. At Assisting Hands Home Care, we extensively screen all of our caregivers and only hire those who have experience in the senior home care industry. Our strict requirements ensure seniors can remain in the comfort of home with a reduced risk of injury or serious illness.
Ask for Business Cards
Every time you take your loved one to a new doctor, ask for a business card. Keeping a business card allows you to maintain the doctor’s information in one central location. You can even buy plastic card holders to add to your central binder to keep the information handy. Consider making copies of the business cards just in case you lose them.
Use an App
If you’re having difficulty keeping up with things like appointment times, consider using an app on your smartphone or other mobile device. If you have an iPhone, Apple’s Health app is a great place to start. GenieMD, Capzule PHR, and MyChart are also good options. Some of these apps allow trusted individuals to view your loved one’s medical information, while others help you access data within the healthcare provider’s servers.
Caring for older adults with serious medical conditions can be an arduous task. If you’re the primary caregiver for a senior family member and are looking for professional senior home care, Arlington Assisting Hands Home Care should be your top choice. Our dedicated and compassionate caregivers are committed to helping older adults manage their health and enjoy a higher quality of life in the golden years. To create a comprehensive in-home care plan for your loved one, call us today.
