Licensed And Certified

Senior Q&A: Keeping information straight during emergencies

Senior Q&A authors Debbie Gitner, right, a licensed certified social worker and certified social worker care manager, and Linda Sullivan, left, a registered nurse and case manager certified, are geriatric care managers and owners of ElderCare Resource Services helping families investigate, assess and choose medical and non-medical care and resources for seniors. Send questions to info@eldercareresourceservices.com or ElderCare Resources, Inc., 29 Gano Road, Marlborough, MA 01752, or call them at 508-879-7008.   

Q: My mother has been hospitalized multiple times. Each time she goes into the hospital I fumble for her current list of medications and I end up going to her house to go through her medications to make a new list. Is there a better system way to communicate with the emergency room staff?

A: Yes, there is a better system. There is something called a File of Life which can be placed on the refrigerator with all of your mother's medications, next of kin and allergy information, personal wishes such as resuscitory measures, and her medical history.

The File of Life is 3 by 4 inches and has a pouch with a form that needs to be completed on your mother's medical history. The form includes names of physicians, making it easier for the emergency room staff to know who to call.

It's important to remember to update the File of Life when there are medication or other changes.

Check with your doctor or local senior center or Council on Aging for a File of Life. If there is no File of Life available, we suggest taking a piece of paper and in large red letters writing down (with a date) the list of medications, next of kin, allergies, physician diagnoses and other important information. EMTs are trained to go to the refrigerator to look for documentation. The emergency room staff will review with your mother or with you the medications for accuracy. They need to review the list just in case there was a change and it was not yet recorded on The File of Life.

Q: My mother is in the hospital because she had a stroke, according to her doctor. My mother has always been very active and watches her diet. I am still trying to figure out why this happened. Can you give me any advice?

A: A stroke occurs when blood vessels that carry oxygen to the brain either burst or become blocked. This stops blood flow and the oxygen supply is decreased. It is very important for brain cells to continuously receive oxygen.

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