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Medic Alert Bracelet for Caregivers
“If anything happens to you I’m a gonner,” Dad commented, seemingly out of the blue while eating breakfast this morning. Knowing him as I do, I know he’s been worrying about this for a long time. Dad never states what’s on his mind until his stewed over it, stayed up worrying about it and tried to solve the dilemma in his own mind.
“If you go down, I go down,” he stated with an emphatic nod of confirmation, still not making eye contact.
“If anything happens to me you’ll be taken care of,” I reassured him, taking his hand in mine and looking him in the eye so he could see the truth in my words.
I told him about the plans we’ve made for his care if for any reason at all Mike and I are not able to do it anymore. There are devoted family members ready to take him into their home and he will continue to receive loving care as long as he needs it.
“Yeah?” he smiled. I can go live with them?”
“The arrangements are all made. You don’t have to worry, I promise.”
“Can I have some more juice?” he asked, signally he was satisfied with what he’d heard and that our conversation was over.
If you’re an in home caregiver you’ve probably made arrangements for continuing care for your loved one as well. But, have you considered what would happen if you were hurt and could not speak? What if you were in an auto accident or became suddenly incapacitated away from home?
I found the answer to that question in an article in the NFCA (National Family Caregivers Association) April newsletter. “NFCA and American Medical ID are partnering to promote the use of medical identification jewelry for family caregivers.”
Dad wears a medical alert bracelet notifying emergency medical personnel that he has a pacemaker and is on blood thinners, but I never considered wearing one to advise people that he will need help if I am not able to be there for him. What a good idea.
“American Medical ID recommends caregivers engrave the following on their ID:
I am a family caregiver for my (relationship)
Caregiver’s name
Care recipients name
Relationship – mother, father, spouse, sister, etc.
Urgent needs and instructions for the recipient
Who to contact in your absence.”
For complete information go to http://www.americanmedical-id.com/extras/nfca.php
Please let me know if you found this information helpful and if you know of a company offering assistance to caregivers please let me know about so I can share it here. You can contact me directly at bcarducci@comcast.net And don’t forget to take care of yourself.
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