Dealing with Health Issues

Man with concerned expression
If your parent's health declines or if they suffer a sudden setback, you may have to help make medical decisions. Talk to your parent about naming you as their "healthcare power of attorney." Make sure you clearly understand their wishes so that you will be prepared to make the decisions they would prefer if they become confused or even lose consciousness. Get to know their doctors by getting your parent's permission to attend some appointments with them.

Keep the following information handy in the event of emergencies. You might even want to keep it at the office or in the car.
  • Names, phone numbers and addresses of your parent's doctors, dentist and pharmacy.
  • Copies of health insurance policies and the front and back of all insurance cards, including the Medicare card.
  • A list of all medications, both prescription and over-the-counter, dosage amounts and instructions for taking them (time of day, with food or between meals, etc.).
  • Date and results of recent medical tests, such as X-rays, CT scans and MRIs.
  • A complete health history on your parents, including major illnesses, on-going conditions, and family history of illness. You could ask your parent to secure a copy for you, or as your parent's healthcare power of attorney, you could request one yourself.
  • Copies of any advance directives your parent may have filled out, such as a living will or a Do Not Resuscitate order.
  • A copy of your parent's healthcare power of attorney. Medical providers are limited in how much information they can share with you unless you have a signed health care power of attorney.
The following links can provide you with more comprehensive information on coping with health and medical issues related to your aging parent.

Health:

American Geriatrics Societywww.americangeriatrics.org
American Assoc. of Geriatric Psychiatrywww.aagpgpa.org
Geriatric Mental Health Foundationwww.gmhfonline.org
Mayo Clinic Onlinewww.mayoclinic.org
National Institutes of Healthwww.nih.gov
The National Library of Medicinewww.nlm.nih.gov
Medical Dictionarieswww.medlineplus.gov
Geriatric Health Informationwww.gericareonline.net
www.geriatricsatyourfingertips.org
Positive Agingwww.positiveaging.org

Disease Specific:

Alzheimer's Association (national chapter)www.alz.org
Alzheimer's Association (all Illinois chapters)www.alzheimers-illinois.org
American Assoc. of People with Disabilitieswww.aapd-dc.org
American Cancer Societywww.cancer.org
American Diabetes Associationwww.diabetes.org
American Heart Associationwww.americanheart.org
American Lunch Associationwww.lungusa.org
American Pain Societywww.ampainsoc.org
Arthritis Foundationwww.arthritis.org
Eye Diseases (National Eye Institute)www.nei.nih.gov
Incontinencewww.aboutincontinence.org
Lewy Body Dementiawww.lewybodydementia.org
Low Visionwww.afb.org/seniorsitehome.asp
Mental Healthwww.nmha.org
National Cancer Institutewww.cancer.gov
National Parkinson Associationwww.apdaparkinson.org
National Institute on Deafness and Other Communication Disorderswww.nidcd.nih.gov
National Multiple Sclerosis Societywww.nmss.org
National Osteoporosis Foundationwww.nof.org
National Spinal Cord Injury Associationwww.spinalcord.org
National Stroke Associationwww.stroke.org

Information on Medications:

Drug Digestwww.drugdigest.com
RXLIST (info on specific drug, including side effects and costs)www.rxlist.com

Information on Paying for Medications:

Medicare Part Dwww.medicare.gov
Needy Meds (pharmaceutical assistance programs)www.needymeds.com
Benefits Check Upwww.benefitscheckup.org
Pharmaceutical Assistance Program Informationwww.rxhope.com
Illinois Department on Agingwww.state.il.us/aging