At Avamere at Mountain Ridge, one of the top priorities within our assisted living facilities is tracking and maintaining up-to-date medical information for all our residents. Keeping a well-stored and easily accessible set of records for everyone within our senior living facility allows us to ensure proper medication timelines, necessary checkups and numerous other vital health areas.
This same theme is vital for senior caregivers as well. Whether you’re considering a future move to our facility and want to have everything organized or are simply looking for some better tools to keep documents and other items in order on a regular basis, here are some themes we can recommend when it comes to collecting and storing medical information for a senior loved one.
Appointment and Reminder Calendar
Missing appointments or important medical reminders can be a big negative for older adults who may have more significant medical concerns, and one great way for caregivers to avoid this ever happening is by keeping a robust schedule or calendar. Modern technology makes storing this in your cell phone or tablet likely the most convenient option – these items can set reminders for medications, easily schedule follow-ups and even store test or medical results from the past.
Medical History and Test Results
Whether on an electronic device or in physical form, it’s vital to keep track of your loved one’s medical history. This can include medical visit notes, physician recommendations, hospital discharge orders or medication guidelines.
In addition, ensure you have copies of all major test results your loved one has undergone in recent years. Many hospitals have electronic records that can be easily sent to you and stored in computer files – if not, ask for printed copies you can store in a physical file.
Family History
In addition to your loved one’s medical history, it’s also good to track family history, which new physicians will regularly ask for at a first appointment. This information allows doctors to assess risks of hereditary conditions or related concerns.
List of Medications
An important check at each medical appointment involves whether any medications have been changed or added in the recent past, and keeping a comprehensive list makes this area simpler to navigate. List both prescription and over-the-counter medications taken, the dosage information, and the prescribing physician for prescription medications.
Physician Contacts
Finally, keep and update a list of your loved one’s current and former physicians, dating back at least three years. Make sure up-to-date contact information is present and the physicians in question can be contacted if needed.
For more on ensuring you have up-to-date medical information for a senior loved one’s continued care, or to learn about any of our senior living services, speak to the staff at Avamere at Mountain Ridge today.