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Making a Trip to the Emergency Room Easier

Persons with memory impairing illness, such as Alzheimer's disease, require a calm, predictable environment in order to remain at their highest functioning level. Emergency rooms are anything but calm and predictable -however, there are steps that caregivers can take to ease this very stressful situation for their family member.

  • Keep an up to date list of all medications that your family member is currently taking. Include dosage and time of day medication is taken.
  • Also list any medicines that have ever caused a bad reaction. Include allergies to medications and food.
  • Keep insurance cards, identification cards, power of attorney records, do not resuscitate orders, living wills and health care proxy forms together in one place. Have a sheet of paper listing: The person's name, nickname, address, insurance companies (include policy numbers and pre-authorization phone numbers)
  • Bring a change of clothes in case the person's clothes become soilded or torn and a plastic bag for soiled clothing. Include extra adult briefs (ie: Depends) if the person usually wears them. These may not be easy to get in the emergency room if you need them.
  • Moist hand wipes (such as Wet Ones)
  • Be prepared to answer the same questions many times throughout your visit. Often, hospitals require forms for different departments and you will be required to fill out forms or answer questions that are very similar.
  • Be sure a family member or friend accompanys you to the hospital. While you are filling out necessary paperwork, they can occupy your family member and help keep them calm.
  • Bring a snack for your family member. Using a snack to distract them from the confusing and frightening activity in an emergency room may help keep them calm.
  • If the environment is very loud and upsetting, tell the admissions personnel that your family member has Alzheimer's disease and that you need to be in a quiet area as soon as possible to avoid behavior outbursts.
  • Explain your family members' condition to the care team at the emergency room. Many staff members at hospitals do not receive much training regarding Alzheimer's Disease. The information you share with them will benefit your family member and other patients with AD in the future.
  • If it is possible to take your family member home with you, be sure to ask if home care services will be needed. Ask the care staff at the hospital to recommend appropriate services and see if they are able to assist you in setting up the first home visit.
  • If your family member must be admitted to the hospital - be sure you or another family member or friend stays as long as possible to help them remain calm in this confusing situtation. Share information regarding their needs with the care staff. Be sure to ask questions and write down the answers. You may be required to repeat the diagnosis and other information to the remainder of your family many times. It will help if all the facts are consistent.
  • Bring familiar items to the hospital for your family member. Small - easily replaced items, such as a favorite blanket or stuffed animal. Photo copy pictures of family members that they recognize and put them in a picture book. Bring a small - inexpensive tape player for them with cassette tapes of their favorite music. (Maybe you can bring the music during your visits and take the tape player home with you when you leave.)
  • Do not be afraid to ask for help. Be sure to tap into your own support system. Ask family, friends and neighbors to visit your family member while in the hospital so they are surrounded by familiar faces as often as possible. When others are visiting, take a much needed break.

Persons with a memory impairing illness look to caregivers to model the type of responses that are appropriate in each situation. They look to caregivers for strength and support. Try and keep yourself calm and in control while in stressful situations. Reassure your family member that everything is under control and that you know exactly what to do. Remind them that they are safe and that everyone is there to help them.

For information regarding caregiver support groups offered in the WNY area, please contact the Alzheimer's Association at (716) 626-0600.

For information regarding ElderWood Senior Care and all the programs and services offered, please contact (716)633-3900.