How Can I Mange my Aging Parents’ Health Care Information?

The complexities of health care problems in the aging adult can complicate communications with health professionals, due to the multiple and detailed diagnoses, symptomology, medications and treatment plans that can be part of their disease processes and daily life. Because elderly parents may not be able to effectively organize medical information, it is essential that we assist our parents’ in collecting and organizing their medical information. An easy and simple way to gather all of your parents’ health information is to compile a Health Care Journal.

The items listed below are essential to include in this journal: Your parents’ name, address, birth date, social security number, telephone numbers including parent, children and physicians, emergency contact, type of insurance, blood type and drug allergies.

• Name
• Address
• Date of birth
• Social security number: [You may want to keep this information in a separate area for confidentiality reasons]
• Telephone numbers: Parents, children, contact relatives and/or neighbors and physicians
• Children’s Phone Numbers: [Home, Work & Cell]
• Emergency Contact: Name, relationship and phone numbers: [Home, Work & Cell]
• Insurance Plan: Policy number and contact information
• Blood Type:
• Any allergies/negative reactions: (i.e., medication, foods, dyes etc.)
• Current Primary Care Physician: Contact information
• Specialists: Address and contact information

In addition, list the primary medical problems, surgeries and hospitalizations, in chronological order, with the most recent problem listed first. List the names of any procedures or surgeries with their corresponding dates. Include all the physicians, by specialty, who examine your elderly parents’ on an intermittent or regular basis, with their addresses, phone number, fax number and most important the name of a contact person in the medical office. This contact person could be a person who works in the physician’s office, an office assistant or the physician’s medical assistant.

Additional information that would be helpful to include:

> Medications:

1. A list of medications including prescription, non- prescription and vitamins. Include information on approximate date medications were started, dosage and frequency. If your parents can’t remember all of the medications they are taking, request a list from their primary care provider.
2. Name of a pharmacist that your parent or you can contact with questions.
3. If you are unclear about the type and number of over-the-counter medications being taken, contact your parents’ pharmacist to request a six or twelve month itemized list of medications.

> List the names and phone numbers of a couple of neighbors and friends to call that could stop by your parent’s house if needed.

> Keep the phone numbers for Meals on Wheels, transportation programs available for the elderly, the local senior program, the Elder Care program in your parent’s state of residence, The Visiting Nurses Association…

> Copies of your parents Durable Power of Health Care. Keep extra copies in your home as well. If your parent is admitted to the hospital, they will want a copy of the Durable Power of Health Care, which will give the health professionals in the hospital authorization to speak with you about your parent’s health problems and treatment plan. This is particularly important if your parent does not live within driving distance from you.

> Google senior services in your state to review what programs are available.

Gathering all of their health information in a concise and organized manner will save an enormous amount of time, when your parents’ or you need to respond to numerous health questions from physicians, filling out medical forms or under emergency circumstances. If your parents are ever brought to a hospital via ambulance, they will be asked specific health questions about their medical conditions and medications prior to being taken to the hospital and a Health Journal can assist them in retrieving this important information without added delays.

Keep all of the health care information on your parents in a bright colored folder that you can refer to when communicating with your parents or their health professionals. Keep an identical folder [the same color] in your own home that you can refer to when communicating with your parents’ or any other health professional. Suggest your parents keep this folder in an easy place for them to remember and in the same place at all times,

A Reminder List can be very beneficial if your parent is confused or starting to get forgetful. If your parents have trouble remembering important health information post a large calendar in their home or apartment, so they can write their physicians appointments and other important information.