How to Advocate for Your Elderly Loved One During a Medical Emergency

Do you wonder what to do if your elderly loved one has a medical emergency? Here are some tips:

When to Call 911

If there is a sudden change in your loved one’s health, if a critical health problem occurs, or if there is any doubt whether your loved one is having a medical emergency, call 911. The rescue workers will do an assessment. If your loved one doesn’t need to go to the hospital, the rescue workers will say so.
- Calling 911 doesn’t automatically mean your loved one will go to the hospital
- If your loved one is transported to the hospital, the first responders can communicate information to the hospital that will help hospital workers be ready to treat a time-sensitive health crisis
- First responders can provide certain treatments immediately and during transport
If you are not present with your loved one and are having trouble contacting them, you can call 911 and ask for a “welfare check.”
If your loved one has fallen, call 911 to get them off the floor vs trying to get them up themselves. In this case you can ask the 911 operator for “lift assist.”
Don’t transport your loved one to the hospital in your own vehicle, as time may be critical

What to Say When You Call 911

If your loved one is having a mental health crisis, make that clear to the dispatcher, as they may be able to dispatch a Crisis Intervention Team (CIT) - an officer trained in de-escalation techniques.
In order to triage the patient, the 911 Dispatcher will ask:
- “What is the emergency?”
  - You can give basic information to the dispatcher to help: “She is an 89 year old female with a history of heart problems and she is having chest pain”
- Where you are (or they may already know where you are based on your calling location)
- Basic questions that you will know the answer to: Is she alert? Is she breathing?
The dispatcher will often stay on the phone with you until rescue workers arrive
A fire truck may show up first, because the fire truck has a medic on board and may be closer to the scene. The medic can take over until the rescue team arrives

What to Have Ready in an Emergency

Documents:
- Emergency Medical Info packet (See our article on How to Help Your Aging Parents Prepare for a Medical Emergency)
  - Advance medical directives / health care power of attorney - present these immediately to the medical teams who arrive at your loved one’s home and to the emergency room staff
  - Do not resuscitate orders (DDNR)
  - POLST (Physician’s Order for Scope of Treatment)
  - Medication lists, medical history, allergies, etc - two copies at least (one to keep with you, other copies to give)
  - Any recent medical history (changes in medications, recent tests or diagnoses, etc.)
  - HIPAA authorization form
  - General power of attorney
  - Emergency contact info
- Insurance cards / info
- Driver’s license or other ID
Medications
- The emergency responders and the hospital team will need to know what medications your loved one is taking to be sure the medications they give your loved one are safe with the medications your loved one is already taking.
- If the person has very time sensitive medication (Parkinson’s, etc.) make sure the medical teams know that.
Assistive Devices
- Hearing aids and batteries
- Glasses and cases
  - Glass cleaning fluid and wipes
For waiting in the Emergency Room
- Snack/water if your loved one can eat/drink
- Cash for vending machines
- Entertainment for your loved one and you - book, newspaper, magazine, card game
- Charged laptop / phone and charging cable
- Shawl/sweater
If your loved one has frequent emergencies, you may want to keep an emergency bag ready

Which Hospital?

The rescue workers will most likely choose the hospital, but let them know which hospital your loved one usually uses / where their doctors are. The rescue workers may need to transport to a different hospital due to the nature of the emergency or the proximity of the emergency center
Patients experiencing trauma will automatically be sent to a hospital with the appropriate designated trauma center. These levels vary by state; the designations can be found at this link.
Ask the rescue workers which hospital they are going to so you can meet your loved one there.

Transportation to the Emergency Department of the Hospital

Don’t transport your loved one in your own vehicle, as time may be critical. Call 911 as described above
Ideally, drive your own car to the hospital and meet the ambulance there so you have transportation afterward
How to meet up with your loved one after transport
- Go into the emergency room entrance (different than ambulance entrance)
- Check in at emergency room registration desk - tell them you are the loved one for the person who is being brought in via rescue workers
- The nurse will come and get you
Insurance coverage of transport: Medicare Part B (Medical Insurance) covers ground ambulance transportation when you need to be transported to a hospital, critical access hospital, or skilled nursing facility for medically necessary services, and transportation in any other vehicle could endanger your health. Medicare may pay for emergency ambulance transportation in an airplane or helicopter to a hospital if you need immediate and rapid ambulance transportation that ground transportation can’t provide.

Insurance Coverage of Hospital Emergency Department Services

Medicare coverage of hospital emergency department services is described at this link.
If your loved one has additional insurance it may provide additional coverage. Consult with your loved one’s insurance advisor
Time spent in a hospital emergency room is considered outpatient service and therefore does not count toward the requirements that qualify your loved one for Medicare coverage of a stay in a skilled nursing facility after discharge from the hospital. Read more in our article about Hospital Observation Status.

After Treatment in the Emergency Department

Your loved one may be transferred from the emergency department to another part of the hospital. See our article about How to Manage a Hospital Stay.
Your loved one may be sent home. In this case, be sure they have transportation home and the support they need there.

Other Ways You Can Help

Consider if there are things at home that need immediate attention if your loved one is admitted. For example - care of a pet. Be ready to address these needs.
Consider comfort items your loved one may need in the hospital, such as a robe, loose pants, change of underwear, etc.
Consider if there are appointments to be rescheduled.
Communicate with the senior living community about your loved one’s status.

How Care is There can Help:

If you are a long distance caregiver or already busy with career and family responsibilities, you may not be able to advocate for your loved one’s during their medical emergency. Care is There can help. We can:

Accompany your loved one during emergency room visits
Present medical history, medication lists, advance medical directives, etc. to emergency medical teams
Arrange for home-related items to be managed - pet care, rescheduling appointments, etc.
Keep you informed

Next Steps

Can’t be with your loved one during their medical emergency? We can help!

Contact Care is There today for a free consultation!

Toll Free: 800.434.1633
Email: Info@CareisThere.com