Such good advice, Victoria, and your useful checklists! I was interested in your ‘ decision to seek help’ thought processes. I have had many pre-emergency admission scenarios with Den. As a doctor I often use something called the NEWS score to help me decide if he needs an ambulance. But for that you need a blood pressure machine, an O2 sats probe, thermometer. I always reflected after about what carers without the equipment or confidence/training would do.
Then I realised that whenever I have used the NEWS score on Den, it has only ever confirmed what my gut was telling me anyway. So my conclusion is that all of us, as carers, should trust our gut, knowing that we know our loved ones best.
Actually, with Dad I did use the BP machine and oximeter - which we got on Amazon, both need at least 3 readings to be sure it’s correct (eye roll), but my gut instinct became quickly attuned to what ‘wasn’t right’ just from close observations. Just as you said, trusting our gut’s important.
Such important information! I've written about this as well and while I can't view your checklist, I can tell you that I trained my mother's aides to ensure they included her cell phone and her charger with the extra long cord, a printed out list of her medications along with a list of doctors and specialists who are at different hospitals so the records could be requested. A copy of her DNR. Shelf stable snacks and water bottles (love your straw idea though in the US the straws are plastic in EDs.) Her favorite comfort pillow, a zip up fleece, and her favorite blanket (lightweight fleece type).
Helene - the download is free and is more than 1 list. If you have an issue downloading, let me know. Yep, what you’ve shared is included, along with much more - the essentials I learnt the hard way, are necessary for us to be comfortable during an 8-12-hour ER event and initial admission. Thanks.
When are we not caregiving?? This is awesome Victoria. Thank you for creating such a valuable checklist resource. Need one for what to do when you get into a car accident too!!
These are genius and will help so many! I'm so glad Advance Care Planning Documents are on there! As a chaplain, it's my job to visit everyone who forgot theirs at home and encourage them to have someone bring it in it fill out a new one. So much easier to have it in the first place!
Also, I highly recommend leaving anything valuable at home. It is wild how many belongings go missing at the hospital, usually just thrown away accidentally if left on meal trays or in linens. So many missing dentures, hearing aids and cell phones, which are all things you can't leave home. But please take jewelry off or other meaning items that you don't want to loose!
Many thanks, Christine. Yes! Great points about valuables - especially when there are scans where you can't wear metal.
The hard copies are so important. I've registered the Power of Attorney with three hospitals and our GP practice, and each one has a different computer system! Even with the easy government system to give an organisation permission to view the document....hmmm another article perhaps. Do you have any idea how the Advance planning doc is attached & visible on a patient record in your hospital?
Oh those docs are not as easy to find as it should be in the Electronic Medical Record. This is on my list of things to change about our hospital/system as soon as I have more power!
Most of my comments relate to differences between the US and the UK. In the US, you are given grippy socks as you walk through the door of the hospital practically. If you are very sick at all, they don't let you wear your own clothes, even in the ED. So don't put any clothes in the go bag, not even a sweater.
Also, a flannel is a plaid shirt in the US. There's a joke about not being a New Englander unless you own multiple flannels, the majority of which were purchased at thrift stores.
In the US, write your phone number on the white board in the patient's room.
Also, I'd add somewhere, in the US, call your person's primary care doc and let them know the person has been admitted. if you know the floor and their hospitalist's name, that can be so helpful. Sometimes there are things that can happen easily in a hospital that cannot happen as an outpatient and sometimes the hospitalist will be willing to do these things. Also, the PCP can give the hospitalist information that can be super valuable. Make it easy for them to connect. If the hospitalist gives you a way to leave a message for them, pass those things along.
Many thanks, Mary! Excellent points...ha! I completely missed the 'flannel' difference ;-)
I'm impressed you get grippy socks automatically. We never got anything in the ER here.
I know you follow-up as the PCP, and I'm hoping that's the norm but even when we've got a really good GP practice in our city they wouldn't follow up in-hospital. I usually inform our GP practice on discharge. I won't start on all the details around this but basically I'm the information conduit.
If there's anything else or you've more thoughts let me know. I really value your opinion.
Such good advice, Victoria, and your useful checklists! I was interested in your ‘ decision to seek help’ thought processes. I have had many pre-emergency admission scenarios with Den. As a doctor I often use something called the NEWS score to help me decide if he needs an ambulance. But for that you need a blood pressure machine, an O2 sats probe, thermometer. I always reflected after about what carers without the equipment or confidence/training would do.
Then I realised that whenever I have used the NEWS score on Den, it has only ever confirmed what my gut was telling me anyway. So my conclusion is that all of us, as carers, should trust our gut, knowing that we know our loved ones best.
Thanks, Rachel! Great points.
Actually, with Dad I did use the BP machine and oximeter - which we got on Amazon, both need at least 3 readings to be sure it’s correct (eye roll), but my gut instinct became quickly attuned to what ‘wasn’t right’ just from close observations. Just as you said, trusting our gut’s important.
Such important information! I've written about this as well and while I can't view your checklist, I can tell you that I trained my mother's aides to ensure they included her cell phone and her charger with the extra long cord, a printed out list of her medications along with a list of doctors and specialists who are at different hospitals so the records could be requested. A copy of her DNR. Shelf stable snacks and water bottles (love your straw idea though in the US the straws are plastic in EDs.) Her favorite comfort pillow, a zip up fleece, and her favorite blanket (lightweight fleece type).
Helene - the download is free and is more than 1 list. If you have an issue downloading, let me know. Yep, what you’ve shared is included, along with much more - the essentials I learnt the hard way, are necessary for us to be comfortable during an 8-12-hour ER event and initial admission. Thanks.
That's great to know! Everyone should download these lists.
When are we not caregiving?? This is awesome Victoria. Thank you for creating such a valuable checklist resource. Need one for what to do when you get into a car accident too!!
What? Are you ok?
Oh yes!! Just a useful “how do I help myself” emergency moment that people don’t always think about until after the fact
Phew, and
- this is the Automobile Association UK version: https://www.theaa.com/driving-advice/legal/what-to-do-after-an-accident
- The US version: https://www.travelers.com/resources/auto/travel/what-to-do-if-you-are-in-a-car-accident
enquiring researcher's brain had to find out ;-)
👏👏👏❤️
These are genius and will help so many! I'm so glad Advance Care Planning Documents are on there! As a chaplain, it's my job to visit everyone who forgot theirs at home and encourage them to have someone bring it in it fill out a new one. So much easier to have it in the first place!
Also, I highly recommend leaving anything valuable at home. It is wild how many belongings go missing at the hospital, usually just thrown away accidentally if left on meal trays or in linens. So many missing dentures, hearing aids and cell phones, which are all things you can't leave home. But please take jewelry off or other meaning items that you don't want to loose!
Many thanks, Christine. Yes! Great points about valuables - especially when there are scans where you can't wear metal.
The hard copies are so important. I've registered the Power of Attorney with three hospitals and our GP practice, and each one has a different computer system! Even with the easy government system to give an organisation permission to view the document....hmmm another article perhaps. Do you have any idea how the Advance planning doc is attached & visible on a patient record in your hospital?
Oh those docs are not as easy to find as it should be in the Electronic Medical Record. This is on my list of things to change about our hospital/system as soon as I have more power!
ahhhh, so same. This is another point where the carer/family end up verbalising everything. Thanks, for the insight, Christine.
Most of my comments relate to differences between the US and the UK. In the US, you are given grippy socks as you walk through the door of the hospital practically. If you are very sick at all, they don't let you wear your own clothes, even in the ED. So don't put any clothes in the go bag, not even a sweater.
Also, a flannel is a plaid shirt in the US. There's a joke about not being a New Englander unless you own multiple flannels, the majority of which were purchased at thrift stores.
In the US, write your phone number on the white board in the patient's room.
Also, I'd add somewhere, in the US, call your person's primary care doc and let them know the person has been admitted. if you know the floor and their hospitalist's name, that can be so helpful. Sometimes there are things that can happen easily in a hospital that cannot happen as an outpatient and sometimes the hospitalist will be willing to do these things. Also, the PCP can give the hospitalist information that can be super valuable. Make it easy for them to connect. If the hospitalist gives you a way to leave a message for them, pass those things along.
Many thanks, Mary! Excellent points...ha! I completely missed the 'flannel' difference ;-)
I'm impressed you get grippy socks automatically. We never got anything in the ER here.
I know you follow-up as the PCP, and I'm hoping that's the norm but even when we've got a really good GP practice in our city they wouldn't follow up in-hospital. I usually inform our GP practice on discharge. I won't start on all the details around this but basically I'm the information conduit.
If there's anything else or you've more thoughts let me know. I really value your opinion.