I didn't know whether to mention this to all of you or not.....but I decided to share.....while my husband was in respite this past week, I received a phone call from the in-home agency. They had some bad news for me. My caregiver for my husband (Monday through Friday from 7:30 a.m.- 5 p.m.) had a heart attack and died!!! He was in his 50s, and seemed to be in very good health! He failed to show up for Church a week ago, and he always attended. When the members couldn't reach him by phone, and he didn't answer his door, they called the police, who found him in the house.
While I am still in shock and am very sorry he passed away (he had been taking care of my husband for four months or so), it also got me thinking about what would have happened should he have had the heart attack while caring for my husband....
I am considering asking all of my friends to start wearing charms to protect them!
Then there is the possibility of us having a heart attack or some other incapacitating emergency while caring for our spouses. When we are found, and the paramedics come:
Keep all pertinent information in an envelope on the refrigerator. Label it - FOR THE PARAMEDICS. Inside should be:
Notice that your spouse has Alzheimer's Disease Medication lists for you and your spouse Living wills for both of you DNR for whomever has one Emergency friend and family contact phone numbers Name and phone numbers of all doctors for both of you List of allergies for both of you Name and number of who can watch your spouse while you are carted off to the hospital
I have all of the above in the refrigerator - except the last one. Don't have a clue who could/would watch DH while I am carted to the hospital! Guess he'll have to go with me - he goes everywhere now with me.
Vickie, when I had one of my TIA's that was bad enough that an ambulance had to be called, I had refused to go because I had no one who could watch Lynn. They assured me he could come with me and they would have an aide to watch him while I was having my testing. They even offered to keep him at the hospital if needed. I am not sure every area offers that service? But it was clear to all of them that he could not be left alone, and I was very grateful for their help!
I have an ALZ Assn Safe Return bracelet on my DH and one on me. Mine says I am a caregiver of one with AD and has my info too. It carries an 800 no to call if something happens to me so that the ER/EMT people can get help to hubby..the folks at Medic Alert have all the points of contact and the doctors and meds..I just have to keep changes up to date.
Both of us have Medic Alert, but all his/my family are hundreds of miles away, so I still don't have anyone locally to look after him. I think the locals would take him to the hospital with me and keep him until family was able to get here - hopefully.
This is certainly thought provoking.. I suppose since I am 14 years younger I thought I would always be the healthy CG for DH... Lately, not sure about that.. Thanks for the heads up.. I will start assembling info for my fridge... Ya just never know???
Mary, was he from another country? DH's caregiver is from Ghana and is in his mid-forties and APPEARS to be in good health. But, several relatives, friends, extended family of his have recently died even though they are in their forties or fifties. I believe this is due to the fact that they generally don't have health insurance (almost none of the home health care companies offer it) because it's too expensive and they neglect their health issues. Also, the Ghanians have a diet which uses a lot of vegetable oil for cooking their food. You just never know.
this thread does give you something to really think about. I have thought about this but never really lingered on it long just hoping and praying nothing happens to me. Joan, thanks for the list for the refrigerator. It is a great idea. Also, I have a red alert seat belt case that some of this info would be good in. Another reason this site is so great for all of us is it helps us think about and learn how to prepare for unexpected issues that may occur.....
I also keep a copy of our Living Wills, DPOA's,DNR's, along with a list of contacts in my car glove box. And we also have the red alert seat belt case also. Have a medic alert sticker on my car.
Our community is using Vial of Life. It goes in the fridge so it is safe in storms. A red dot is placed on the fridge door. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vial_of_Life
Our community moved from Vial of Life to a magnetic pouch for the front of the fridge with a pocket for papers that contain all your information. In addition I put copies of our DNR's on the front of the fridge also. I remember when Rose Kennedy's husband, Joe, died, instead of calling 911 right away she went down to the pool and swam for a half hour. At the time I was so horrified, but now realize how smart and compassionate she was. She was making sure that the paramedics didn't try to resusitate him, which often happened even tho it was stated that it was not wanted. She was one courageous lady!
PrisR, I agree that she was very courageous. I can absolutely understand why she swam for a half hour before calling 911! I know it sounds calous in a way but it isn't at all.
About a week ago I emptied out our safety deposit box and brought home everything in my zeal to apply for Medicaid... On Wednesday morning L. had a stroke and I spent the day with him. Around five the news started reporting that we were in the path of a storm that had set a tornado down in Massachusetts. This had never happened in the 40 years we've lived in RI... L. was completely comatose, so I rushed home to our daughter coping with cats and house and who knows what.. all I could think of was the tornado hitting us and spreading everything from the safety deposit box all over everywhere!! He died the next morning. THe storm never hit us.