Tools for Caregivers: How to Organize Your Parents' Medical Information
One of the many jobs of a family caregiver is coordinating doctor appointments and medical treatment. The family caregiver often escorts their aging parent to their next doctor appointment, takes notes during the exam, picks up prescription medication at the pharmacy, and schedules follow-up appointments. After all this, the family caregiver often has other tasks to complete, from assisting their mom or dad with personal care to completing household chores or running errands. It can be easy for important medical information to get lost in the shuffle.
October is National Organize Your Medical Information Month. Before the rush of the holiday season, we urge family caregivers to develop a medical information organizational system. Staying organized helps family caregivers and their aging loved ones take charge of their health. It also helps prevent medical errors due to miscommunication. Here are four tips to help family caregivers organize their parents' medical information.
Establish a Medical Binder
A simple way to start organizing your parents' medical information is to create a medical binder. Use a three-ring binder to keep key records organized and readily accessible. Start with a brief personal health history that includes current medical conditions, treatment for those conditions, and known allergies. Include past surgeries or procedures and hospitalizations (dates, diagnosis, doctors seen, and name of hospital or medical building). Record your parents' family medical history and file under another tab. Finally, document emergency contact information and place a copy of your parents' legal documents (living will or durable power of attorney for health care). Create a binder for each parent and take this with you to each doctor's appointment in the future.
Keep a Medication List
It's also important to include a list of current and past medications in your parents' medical binder. Document each medication they currently take—the drug name, dosage, start date, what it's for, and any side effects they've experienced. Include all prescriptions, over-the-counter medications and supplements they take regularly. Review this medication list after every doctor appointment and update as needed. In addition, list the contact information of their preferred pharmacy and file this with the medication list.
Sort and File Medical Documents
If your parents don't have an already established filing system for their personal medical records, create one this month. Start by gathering all their medical documents and health insurance statements. Create a file folder for each doctor and one for health insurance. Sort documents by doctor and file in chronological order. Designate one place to keep all their medical records. When they return from their appointment, help them file medical documents immediately, so their records are not misplaced.
Use Digital Tools
Digital tools can help family caregivers manage their parents' medical information more effectively and efficiently. Create a digital family calendar to keep track of future doctor appointments. Add appointments to the calendar as soon as you make them. Use a digital list or notebook to record your parents' questions or concerns for their doctor. Record your observations and questions as well so that you can give their doctor an accurate picture of your parents' overall health. Encourage your parents to use health apps on their smartphones to help them track symptoms, vitals, or other data. Finally, help your parents set up a patient portal account for each medical provider. Teach them how to log in and access lab results or doctor notes.
Family caregivers play a vital role in the lives of their aging loved ones. Yet, caring for an aging loved one can be challenging and exhausting. Fortunately, Visiting Angels Richmond is here to support family caregivers. We have served many elderly adults and families throughout Hanover and Henrico Counties, including Richmond, Mechanicsville, Short Pump, Glen Allen, and surrounding communities in Virginia. Family caregivers can rest assured that their loved ones will receive quality care from one of our compassionate and professional caregivers. This gives family caregivers the confidence to step away to take care of themselves. To learn more about our home care services for older adults, please get in touch with us today by calling 804-353-0000.