Now is the time to get organized. Take the time to type or write out medical information for each person in your household.
List your current medications and supplements, allergies, and medical conditions. Add your insurance information, primary health care provider name and contact information, and any other specialists that see you. Add any surgeries you have had and approximate date. Put a copy of your Power of Attorney for Health Care (“Advanced Physician’s Directives”, “Living Will”, “DNR orders”), and Durable Power of Attorney documents, if you have these.
Right away: Make sure this information is in an easily accessible place, such as on your kitchen table, or on your refrigerator. Make sure that everyone in your household knows where it is and that emergency personnel could see the information if needed. Keep it out and available until this crisis has passed. You can buy a packet to put on your refrigerator from File of Life.
Keep this up to date. You will find that doing so is beneficial in “normal times”. Whether you have a yearly check-up or only go to the doctor when you have a medical issue, having a list of information to hand to the nurse is a real time saver, is accurate, and is much appreciated by medical personnel.
If you have to take a family member to the doctor or hospital, and they cannot speak for themselves, you will have the peace of mind of knowing that you are providing information that is accurate, because it was written out and approved by them when they were feeling well.
And, while you are at it, it isn’t a bad idea to also make a separate list for your pets. List their age, breed, and veterinarian. If they take medication, list it. This can be provided to pet sitters, and will be valuable if someone needs to take care of your pet because you have a family emergency to attend to.
This is Tip #4. Prior tips can be seen in our Legal Blog and on our social media. Prior tips are listed below. We will continue to update and publish more tips and legal information:
- Giving Legal Authority to Temporarily Take Care of Children During Covid 19
- How to Keep Things Going if You Get Sick
- Make a List of Your Trusted Helpers.
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