How to Cope with Emergencies with Your Elderly Loved One
January 27, 2016
Elderly Care in Saratoga CA
Thinking about emergency situations that might plague your elderly loved one can be terrifying. One way to work through those feelings is to have a solid plan in place. The more prepared you
are, the less emergencies will feel insurmountable.
Plan Ahead as Much as Possible
Having an idea how you would handle specific situations can make what seems like a crisis or an emergency far more manageable. Look into hiring elder care providers who can stop in to check on your loved one or invest in a personal alarm system for her. Another important conversation is the one in which you sit down with your elderly loved one and learn what her wishes are should something truly life-changing pop up suddenly. In the case of a stroke, for example, would your loved one want to stay at home if possible or move to an assisted living situation? If you have these bits of information, you can make a more informed decision should something happen.
Put a List in an Obvious Spot
If your loved one should fall or otherwise be unable to communicate with emergency workers, it helps to have a list in an obvious location. That list should have information about your loved one's health as well as contact information for you and other family members. In a true emergency, first responders need the most important information first. If there is other information that they might find helpful if there's more time, add to the first list that there's a longer and more involved list in another location, such as on the kitchen counter. Put the emergency list in a really obvious location, such as on the refrigerator. One way to make it stand out is to print it on bright paper or to use a brightly colored marker at the top of the sheet.
Have Backups for Your Backups
It's pretty much a given that emergencies tend to happen at the least convenient time and you may not even be in the area in order to help. Make sure that other family members, elder care providers, or even friends and neighbors can be contacted if you're unavailable during an emergency. Having backups for your backups can help you to have more peace of mind if you have to be away on business or to help another family member with an emergency.
Knowing how to cope with potential emergencies can make them less frightening.
If you or an aging loved one are looking for elderly care services in Saratoga, CA, please call Familiar Surroundings Home Care. Call today!
Santa Clara County: (408) 600-2760
San Mateo County: (650) 458-0140
Santa Cruz County: (831) 325-0890