Welcome to Caregiver Rx
Caregivers resource for medical records and emergency information
Caregiver Help
Caring for an aging parent, spouse or other family
member presents many challenges for the caregiver, especially when a
crisis hits and the responsibilities of care giving descend upon you
unexpectedly. One of those challenges is compiling a medical history
record.
Depending on the care receivers needs this may be a simple list on a note
tablet or an extensive personal health record. Again depending upon the
need, other precautions such as a medical alert bracelet or even a home
medical monitoring service may be in order.
Personal health records
Because
many older adults take several medications at one time, it is possible
that these drugs can interact with one another and be a danger. Often
more than one doctor is prescribing medications, it is important to keep
each doctor aware of all the drugs that are being taken or prescribed by
other physicians. If several medications are being taken at different
times through the day, it may be helpful to develop a separate list to
assist you with daily medications. Keeping track of all this information
can be difficult but with some preparation it can become more
manageable.
Caregivers can maintain a Personal Health Record as an ongoing record of
the care receivers service providers, medications and procedures. It is
also a way to provide information between the many providers and
services that help care for a child or family. Healthcare professionals
recommend that caregivers also bring this record to all medical
appointments.
And an easily accessible health record can be especially important when a
substitute caregiver occasionally takes your place.
Medical Alert IDs
Anyone
with special medical needs should always wear or carry the appropriate
emergency information. If one or two words are all that's needed to
describe a condition or alert medics to special needs then a Medical ID
bracelet may be appropriate.
Where more information must be available, the new USB flash drive medical
alert from MedicTag can carry medications, doctors, existing conditions,
allergies, emergency contacts and much more.
$39.95
+ s&h
Order yours TODAY
Home Medical Alarms
A
medical alarm is an alarm system designed to alert someone that you
require urgent attention. It may call a neighbor or family member, or
summon emergency medical personnel through a call monitoring center.
Another term for a medical alarm is PERS or Personal Emergency Response
System.
Typical systems have a wireless pendant or transmitter that can be
activated in an emergency. When the medical alarm is activated, the
signal is transmitted to an alarm monitoring company's central station,
emergency services agency or other programmed phone numbers. Medical
personnel are then dispatched to the site.
Any one or combination of these solutions may be appropriate for your
situation. Each of them has a place in a caregivers toolbox and
HOPEFULLY will make their task a little easier while adding a measure of
safety for the care receiver.
Your doctors, pharmacists and even local EMS personnel can help you
determine the records you need to keep and the level of precautions
necessary but it is better to have to much than not enough - Oh, and
tomorrow is not soon enough.
The time to get started on it is NOW.