A 79-year-old man is involved in a serious car accident. He’s not able to breathe on his own, so a breathing tube is inserted to help him. An 80-year-old woman living alone falls at home but isn’t found until the next day. She has suffered trauma to her brain and can no longer speak coherently.
[See: 14 Ways to Protect Seniors From Falls.]
As a trauma surgeon, I’ve met hundreds of these types of patients. When I do, I already know I am at a disadvantage. These emergency room patients likely have more than one chronic medical condition and take more than one medication. But they are often unable to articulate any of this.
I’ve spent hours trying to gain information from aging spouses and family members, who don’t know what medical problems their loved one has, and can’t remember the names of their loved one’s medications or doctors. Hours are spent calling pharmacies, digging through old records and checking labs just to gain the most basic of health information. And what if the patient’s condition does not improve? What are his or her wishes in this situation? As the treating emergency physician, how am I going to find that out, in order to honor those wishes? Does the family even know?
The U.S. aging population is growing. In fact, more than 1 in 10 Americans is over age 65, and that number is expected to almost double in the next 20 years.
For those of us with loved ones in this age group, that’s great news — we can expect to have them with us longer. It also means that now, more than ever before, we need to know how to help our aging parents and family members have the healthiest golden years possible.
[See: 14 Ways Caregivers Can Care for Themselves.]
Unfortunately, in my line of work, I too often witness accidents that could have been prevented and wishes that could have been honored, if families had been prepared. The truth is, it’s only a matter of time before falls and accidents affect the majority of our aging loved ones. Every 11 seconds, an aging adult is evaluated in an emergency department because of a fall, according to the National Council on Aging. And almost 650 aging adults are injured in car accidents daily.
Here’s how you can better prepare for these incidents with the aging loved ones in your life:
1. Know your loved one’s health history. This is one of the most helpful things you can do to care for your aging loved one. While you may not be able to join every doctor’s appointment, make sure you know the name of your loved one’s primary care physician. Additionally, know which pharmacy he or she uses to fill prescriptions. Having a list of your loved one’s medical conditions and current medications is optimal, but knowing these basics is incredibly helpful for emergency health care providers.
2. Take a ride. If your loved one still drives, when was the last time you rode along? The idea of losing driving privileges is scary for aging adults, but having conversations about driving is extremely important. As much as it would hurt you to have your loved one injured because of an accident he or she caused, it hurts even more when you realize someone else was injured, too. Try and arrange a time for your loved one to drive you, so you can observe firsthand his or her ability to adapt to other drivers on the road and changing road conditions. If you don’t feel safe riding with your loved one, it may no longer be safe for him or her to drive. Taking the time to ask your loved one his or her perspective on the matter is an excellent way to broach this tough topic.
3. Discuss living independently. Similarly to driving, the choice to continue living independently is a hot-button topic for most aging adults. However, family members should know what safety measures are in place, in case of a fall. If a loved one cannot call for help, consider an alarm service or a check-in protocol with neighbors. If bedrooms are not located on the first floor, think about moving the bedroom to limit the use of stairs. If stairs are necessary, make sure they are in good repair and that the handrail is secure. In the case of many falls, a small amount of prevention and preparation can go a long way toward improving your loved one’s quality of life.
[See: 14 Ways Alcohol Can Affect the Aging Process.]
4. Know who’s in charge. When aging adults are injured, they are often unable to communicate effectively with their health care team. Every adult should have a health care power of attorney and a living will. If no power of attorney is documented, some states have a defined default process. In other words, if no paperwork is present, the spouse assumes that role by default. If no spouse is available, then it would be an adult child and so on. However, in some states there are no legal defaults for health care decision-making and any family member can have an equal say in the care of your loved one. In other words, a second cousin twice removed, who has only visited twice in the past 50 years, can have just as much say in the health care of a loved one as a spouse of 50 years. In order to prevent this potentially fraught situation, it’s crucial to have this discussion and have it legally documented.
5. Discuss the “what if” scenarios. Not only should every adult have a living will to guide their medical care, but close family members should be familiar with a loved one’s wishes. For example, if your loved one is involved in a fall or accident and suffers a traumatic brain injury, would he want his life extended by a breathing machine or feeding tube? Would she want CPR? Although these are very specific examples, being able to guide the doctors caring for your loved one — and doing everything in your power to give your loved one the care he or she wants — is priceless.
More from U.S. News
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11 Things Seniors Should Look for in a Health Provider
Vital Talks to Have Before an Aging Loved One Is Admitted to the ER originally appeared on usnews.com
