Taking care of someone with dementia is tough. Dementia mixed with the need for emergency help creates challenges you won’t expect. Therefore, prepare for emergency help, create certain documents ahead of an emergency. For example, a medication list answers questions from Emergency Medical Technicians (EMT) you might not remember when stressed. Or in the event something happens to you and your loved one with dementia can’t help. Or worse yet, they prevent Emergency Services from helping you.

Dementia Emergency Help Preparation—Medication Lists

Step one:

In this instance, create copies of medication lists for yourself and your loved one, and have them available in the event of an emergency. The list should include all drug allergies. The EMT’s job will be much easier if they know what medications your loved one is taking, including when she takes them.

Every time a medication is changed, added or removed, print an updated copy of the medication list. Put it into a plastic sleeve and tape it into the inside of an overhead kitchen cabinet door nearest the front door. Place a red stick-on dot on the outside of the cabinet door. Next, tell your family members and caregiver(s) so EMTs look there first. For example, this is a common practice in assisted living facilities. In addition, medication lists are useful for doctor’s appoints, and hospital admissions.

Include the person’s full name and date of birth (DOB) and the name of her primary care provider (PCP) at the top of the form. Include all prescriptions, all over-the-counter medications and supplements. Keep in mind supplements can cause adverse drug interactions.

Include two more columns:

• A column for the medication start date. This will help you catch a sudden behavior change caused by a new drug or supplement
• A column for whether the medication is taken with or without food

Step two:

Medical needs and conditions change over time. Add a table for your loved one’s surgeries and medical conditions, like artificial joints, COPD, diabetes, hepatitis, pacemakers, Parkinson’s Disease, etc. Include the date the condition or surgery occurred. This will help anyone who sees your loved one update their records.

At the time of this writing, doctor’s offices still use fax machines. Knowing fax numbers for each of your doctor’s offices speeds up contact between offices and labs when you schedule medical appointments if they are not within the same network.

Emergencies are never easy but having the resources in place to cope with whatever you may face will lower your stress levels. Furthermore, take a few minutes to take care of yourself and create the lists. You are worth the effort. Be prepared.

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Tracy Cram Perkins is a dementia caregiving survivor and blogger. Her twelve-plus-years of experience caregiving for two parents with dementia provided the nucleus of  Dementia Home Care: How to Prepare Before, During, and After. She experienced the depression, anxiety, and guilt which comes with dementia care and recognized each person’s journey with dementia follows a different path. This guide grew from the questions presented by family members and friends overwhelmed by caregiving challenges and the frustration of not being able to find caregivers hands-on answers in one book.

Tracy believes that the sound of our laughter and the memories we create with others are the most important things we leave behind. She believes laughter is an important part of the caregiving equation.

According to Tracy, the Surgeon General’s warning for laughter could read, “Warning, laughter produces chemicals known to the State of California to be cathartic and to make you feel better. Other states of mind may follow.”