When you have an aging loved one who’s living alone, you want to make sure he or she is safe and well cared for. However, when it comes to household accidents and medical emergencies, it’s usually not a matter of if but when an emergency will arise. Do you have a plan in place if your mother or father suddenly needs to go to the hospital? What if your loved one experiences a fall while you’re at work? By following these simple steps, you’ll be able to avoid the stress of scrambling at the last minute.
Set Up Power of Attorney & Medical Arrangements
In the middle of a medical emergency, your parent may not be able to make informed decisions about his or her care. One family member should have medical power of attorney to make these decisions. Family members can arrive at the decision as a group, but having one single person designated to communicate with the medical staff can simplify the situation. Talk with your loved one openly ahead of time about his or her wishes and how he or she would want different situations addressed. Ideally, the person with medical power of attorney should live nearby.
Establish Who to Contact First
In case of an emergency, who should your parent call first? Talk with your loved one about which situations warrant a call to you or a sibling and which situations call for dialing 9-1-1 immediately. It’s also a great idea for seniors living alone to employ monitoring services. With the press of a button, the monitoring agent can call for emergency services and reach out to the main contact person in the family.
If you have the help of a professional caregiver, make sure he or she has a copy of your emergency plan and contact list. Many older adults are choosing to age in place, and some need a helping hand to continue living at home safely and comfortably. Luckily, there is professional in home care seniors can trust and rely on.
Find a Way to Share the Message
In this age of electronics, the phone tree of past years can be eliminated. If everyone in the family has texting capability, the primary contact person can create a group contact list. When there’s an emergency, a quick text message can be sent to all family members so everyone is informed. From there, you can coordinate who is able to provide your loved one with immediate care and assistance.
If you’re concerned about ensuring your loved one’s safety in case of an emergency, consider hiring an in-home caregiver. Certain age-related conditions can make it more challenging for seniors to age in place safely and comfortably, but Reston home care experts are available around the clock to help seniors manage their health. Whether your loved one is living with dementia or recovering from a stroke, you can trust the professional caregivers in Reston from Assisting Hands Home Care to enhance his or her quality of life.
Consider Caregiver Services
Planning ahead and meeting with caregivers prior to an emergency can be extremely helpful if you have a busy schedule. This way, you can arrange for a professional caregiver to provide assistance at the hospital or in the emergency room if something happens to your loved one. It’s always best to seek out these types of services before an emergency occurs rather than in the midst of one.
Reston at-home care professionals can be a wonderful boon to seniors. Whether they require around-the-clock supervision or just need assistance with exercise and household tasks a few days a week, seniors can enjoy a higher quality of life with the help of trusted in-home caregivers. If your loved one needs professional care, Assisting Hands Home Care is here to help. Call one of our dedicated Care Managers today at 703-556-8983 to learn about the high quality of our in-home care services.
