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Making an "Emergency Bag" before it is needed reduces the stress and confusion that often accompanies a hospital visit, particularly if the visit is an unplanned trip to the emergency room.

• Personal Information Sheet -- Create a document that includes the following information on your care partner:
  
  • Preferred name and language (some people may revert to native languages in late stage Alzheimer's disease)
  • Contact information for doctors, key family members, minister and helpful friends (also program into cell phone, if applicable)
  • Illness or medical conditions
  • All current medicines and dosage instructions; update whenever there is a change
  • Any medicines that have ever caused a bad reaction
  • Any allergies to medicines or foods; special diets
  • Need for glasses, dentures or hearing aid
  • Degree of impairment and amount of assistance needed for activities
  • Family information, living situation, major life events
  • Work, leisure and spiritual history
    Daily schedule and patterns, self-care preferences
  • Favorite foods and music; touch and visual resources
  • Highlight behaviors of concern; how your relative communicates needs and expresses emotions
• Paperwork: Include copies of important documents such as:
  • Insurance cards (include policy numbers and pre-authorization phone numbers)
  • Medicaid and/or Medicare cards
  • Durable Power of Attorney, Health Care Power of Attorney, Living Will and/or an original DNR (do not resuscitate) order
• Supplies for the Care Partner:
  • A change of clothing, toiletries and personal medications
  • Extra adult briefs (e.g., Depends), if usually worn. These may not be available in the emergency room if needed
  • Moist hand wipes such as Wet Ones. Plastic bags for soiled clothing and/or adult briefs
  • Reassuring or comforting objects
  • An iPod, MP3 or CD player; earphones or speakers
• Supplies for the Caregiver:
  • A change of clothing, toiletries and personal medications.
  • Pain medicine such as Advil, Tylenol or aspirin. A trip to the emergency room may take
    longer than you think. Stress can lead to a headache or other symptoms.
  • A pad of paper and pen to write down information and directions given to you by hospital staff. Keep a log on your care partner's symptoms and problems. You may be asked the same questions by many people. Show them what you have written instead of repeating your answers.
  • A sealed snack such as a pack of crackers and a bottle of water or juice for you and your care partner. You may have to wait for quite awhile.
  • A small amount of cash.
  • Put a note on the outside of the "Emergency Bag" to take a cell phone with you.

Source: National Institute on Aging
Reviewed by Dr. Boaz Ancselovic, MD, Geriatrician, Alzheimer's Weekly
Edited By Peter Berger, Alzheimer's Weekly

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