Being Prepared for Medical Emergencies
My mother fell and broke her leg. And with that, life changed in an instant.
She needed surgery to repair the femur, and after five days in the hospital, was transferred to a skilled nursing facility for PT and rehab where she will remain for a while.
I am grateful that she lives nearby, less than an hour away. I am also grateful that I work for a firm that values family above all, allowing me to spend time tending to her needs.
My experience was certainly not unique, but it did bring home some important lessons that we share with our clients but which never hurts to repeat.
All family members—not just the elderly but college students, spouses, everyone—should have their affairs in order. This means medical powers of attorney, directives to physicians, HIPAA release forms and the like. It also means having a list of all medical providers and all medications. The same for personal and household matters, so that a caregiver or loved one can keep up with bills coming due and other matters needing attention. Documents such as insurance policies, vaccination records, driver’s licenses and other identification should be eVaulted for easy access. A contact list of friends and neighbors who can pick up mail, deliver needed items and otherwise provide support is a great help.
Unless you happen to work in the medical profession (and even if you do), navigating a hospital stay can be daunting. Every patient needs an advocate. The need for communication is critical as there are different teams attending the patient. In my mother’s case, that meant a surgery team, a trauma team, a cardio pulmonary team, the hospitalist, and the nursing staff. Other than through notes on a chart, these teams did not seem to connect. It was imperative that the critical pieces of information were given to each group, and that often fell to me. And oh, the waiting! I probably spent 3-4 hours waiting for every meaningful 15 minutes of medical interaction.
Despite being a fairly competent person, I was at a disadvantage in not having a medical background. Between the internet and calls to friends in the industry, I managed to keep a list of questions for the medical staff. I felt myself wishing for a patient advocate to guide and assist. There actually is such a thing, but they focus on navigating insurance and billing, which is a whole other nightmare.
If you have ever been to DisneyWorld, they have VIP Tour Guides, essentially expeditors who help you skip the lines and get on all the best rides, get a seat at the most popular shows and character breakfasts, and make sure you see the latest exhibits. I felt the need for this in the hospital and in navigating the transition to skilled nursing. The experience is exhausting and emotionally draining.
I was fortunate in that I did have the forms, lists and organization in place ahead of time. I cannot imagine how someone goes through this without it.
At SineCera Capital, it is our goal to help our families get prepared for the life events that come one’s way. As the famous adage goes, “Life is what happens when you are busy making other plans.”