ELDERLY AND EMERGENCIES!!!

Please make certain if you have a loved one who is elderly and is loosing their memory, that they have family phone numbers written down and tucked in their purse, wallet, or in their  vehicle glove box in case of emergencies.

Last night an elderly family member called. They had went with their spouse to the grocery store to pick up medicine and a few groceries. Their vehicle broke down in the parking lot.  It was a 100 degree weather, with who know's how high humidity on top yesterday afternoon. It was very very miserable to be outside yesterday for any length of time. They didn't have a AAA membership any more. Many people offered to help them in the grocery store parking lot. But all the elderly couple wanted was a jump start and no one could aid them. For the elderly gentleman knew it was the battery that was not working at the time. 

THE BIGGEST delema of it all,  was they couldn't remember any of their family members phone numbers for several hours to come and help them with this emergency. They sat in the heat, in their vehicle highly upset over their delema. They couldn't even remember to contact two of their childrens work places to reach their children for help. Which the business's were not far from where the elderly couple was broken down.

The elderly couple have several health issues. But to be out in the heat for a long period of time, could have made things worse. They claimed they were not physically hurt. But were more upset over their delema and not being able to remember anyones in  their family phone numbers for many hours. Finally a lightbulb moment came after many hours sitting in the hot sun, they remembered their one child's cellphone number. They called it and thankfully it worked. The child was able to get them help immediately and home.

When they spoke to another family member last night,  it was stressed to them to write down several family members phone numbers on a piece of paper and tuck it in their wallets, purse, and place a copy in the glove box of the car.

 SO PLEASE!! Check on the elderly that they are prepared. They like to still travel too. Just they need to be better prepared when traveling in case emergencies arrise and they need to contact someone,they will have phone numbers on them somewhere to be prepared.    

I am glad that they are ok this morning.. The family member should take it upon themselves to be sure these folks have numbers of important people. The couple could have asked anyone who stopped to call 911 as the police would be able to track them or at least get them out of the situation they were in.

My biggest fear with my dh is that he wanders off. He no longer has a vehicle and would be lost if he walked a block away, so I am always vigilante of his where abouts.. He has a medic-alert bracelet and his name is inside of his clothes.. Our neighbors all know to keep an eye out for him also.

Have the family put a first aid kid, blankets and water in the elder's car also.

'Ya know, placing a list of names and numbers in the glove box of a vehicle, wallet, etc is a good idea for all of us. Stress of an accident, or anything could cause any of us to have a momentary lapse - not just being elderly.

I, for one, have always had a problem with remembering anything that had a number. (caused me great difficulty in school) Took me three years to remember my house phone number. I do not know any of my kids cell numbers or home phone numbers even though they have had them for a very long time.

Since few have numbers listed in a phone book anymore, locating them has become futile when relying on my memory. As for addresses - forget it. I know how to drive there - could not tell anyone other than "show them". I can give great directions - no numbers involved.

Yeppers - great idea to have 'em written down.

another place...a list on the refrig....that is the first place fire personnel look at when they go into an elderly persons home...they are looking for a possible DNR and the list of family numbers....

My mother has the alert button but it also has a cell phone type attachment, she carries when she leaves the house. If she needs help anywhere all she does is hit the button. This is for any problem it goes to the alert center. They said car problems, no start problems or now days if you are hijacked. They have all our numbers and if a real 911 problem will call the cop or emt.

I would add one more thing, a list of any medications that the loved one is taking should be added to the list on the person and on the fridge too.

I had asked a family member this morning, why the elderly couple didn't just have the police called. I was told that if they would have called the police, a tow truck would have been called to help the elderly couple. Then they would have had the extra expense for the tow truck and garage fee. All because of the rural area the family members reside in. Where in turn they were able to get the repairs done by the family mechanic.

It is wise to have POA-- Power Of Attorney papers, DNR, list of current medicines, allergies, list of doctors, and family members with phone numbers all in a folder in a designated area in the house. So when the ambulance is called for a loved one, or any other emergancy arrises, the paperwork is handy to be grabbed and used to aid the love one needing assistance. It should also be known by who ever is in charge of the loved one, to know where the paperwork is located. The refrigerator is handy. But I have found it handy to be in a folder on the floor behind the television. Why the TV! Most people have one in their home. The referigerator is handy. But more on top or clipped on the side. Most people are in and out of the refrigerator so paperwork can get knocked off if clipped in front of the refrigerator. 

that is why they make refrig magnets...to hold it in place...and fire personnel don't have time to be checking the top of the refrig...and with mine it's inside a cupboard...so not possible...and it's 1 or 2 sheets of paper...not a whole notebook...

Of course I am glad they are OK BUT: with memory that bad should they not be living in Assisted Living apartments???

As an "elderly" (actually OLD) person I still have my wits but who knows how long  before it could happen to me that I lose my memory. I gave up driving voluntarily over 4 yrs ago e.Even though I was legally blind at the time I could have had a drivers license renewed with a few restrictions but thought it better to give it up and use the senior bus.

When my mother came from Germany to live near us for 1 1/2 yrs (she brought her own furniture and we did not have room for  of it) she rented an apartment not far from us. Although she was mentally sharp as a tack she did not speak English.

Since she liked to walk and go shopping by herself I took a LARGE luggage tag, put a big  adhesive red cross on each side and important information inside and fastened it to her purse. In case she fell anybody who would try to help her could see it and open it up. Inside was her name, that she did not speak English and to call n ambulance to take her to the hospital. Additional information in it was my name, address and phone number, the names of two German speaking doctors and the names and phone numbers of my two German friends who knew my mother just in case we were not home.

This old couple that sat in a super hot car the parking lot for hours has no business behind the wheel of a car. They didn't even have sense enough to go back into the store and ask the cashier to call the police or a garage. Time for them to hang up the car keys.

If I should ever lose my memory my friends and heirs (they have durable power of attorney) have instructions to put me in assisted living or in a nursing home, depending on how bad off I am.

Yes, it is nice for old people to still be independent but there comes a time when somebody else may have to take the responsibility to do what is necessary to PROTECT the old folks, even if they do not want to admit they do need to give up driving and make a move every old person dreads. It is a fact of life and it is better to be safe than sorry.

Bump

Grelo...this elderly family member will be taken care of in their home as long as they can be taken care of by all their descendants. It has already been discussed. They will be able to drive as long as the family, doctor, and health allows it. Many family members already step up to the plate and help drive them to some places already. But still give them the freedom to drive when they can. There are worse people behind the wheel then this elderly family member.

As for the memory issue...no matter if you are in your 40's to 80's everyone gets a mind block or lack of memory. The situation with the elderly family members forgetfulness has already been addressed by their descendants that help take care of them when needed. It has been even addressed again after this latest delema. It is not as bad as some people can be mentally. Anyone can not think clearly when they are in an emergency delema. Some people can stay calm, cool, and collected. Other people can be scattered brain.

 I have worked both care of nursing home facilities. They are nice to have when the time is needed. But you will see an even bigger change to the person's health once they are admitted and living in either facility and have to live the rest of their life in the home. Some do well and some give up instantly. If a person can live independantly it is a wonderful advantage. But sometimes a caregiver or licensed nurse can still be needed to better assist an elderly person or disabled person to still live independantly in their own home instead of being admitted to either nursing home facility.

It's great you have decided Grelo, when it's your time to go in a nursing home, you will be willing to go. Many people would rather not ever be admitted to a nursing home.