August is MedicAlert Awareness Month. The MedicAlert Foundation, a nonprofit that keeps a record of members’ medical information, created this annual observation to make people aware of their services and the benefits of having a medical ID. The MedicAlert Foundation offers internationally recognized medical identification, an easily accessible online health record, and a 24/7 emergency response team.
Does your loved one have medical identification? If not, here are a few questions to ask to help you determine if you should obtain one:
- Does your loved one wander off or get distracted easily?
Many elderly people lose their sense of direction or become confused when they’re out in public. Should your family member get lost, they might become disoriented and anxious, and unsure of who to trust. A medical identification bracelet or necklace would allow a kind stranger to quickly identify your loved one and notify their ICE (In Case of Emergency) contact.
When engraving a medical ID, be sure to choose an ICE who lives nearby, is easily reachable, and is up to date on your loved one’s medical history.
- Does your loved one have any medical conditions?
You may know of someone who has a medical identification for diabetes or epilepsy. But anyone with a serious medical condition would benefit from wearing an ID. Conditions include (but aren’t limited to):
- Alzheimer’s
- Asthma
- Autism
- Diabetes
- Epilepsy
- Food allergies
- Heart disease
- Pacemaker device
- Parkinson’s
- PTSD
Click here for a full list of conditions and their abbreviations, which will make them easy to identify by emergency personnel. The medical ID should list their conditions and any medications they take, as well as any medications that your loved one should not take. This goes a long way in preventing errors in your loved one’s care.
- Do you and/or your loved one feel stressed over their care needs?
Does your family member feel anxious about their medical needs? Do you feel overwhelmed or burdened by your caregiving role? Peace of mind is a huge benefit of having medical identification. Imagine if your loved one got lost, fell down, had an episode, or reacted to new medicine and you weren’t there to help. Would they be able to communicate their needs?
If you still aren’t sure if your loved one needs medical identification, give us a call. We’re happy to discuss your questions and concerns and help point you in the right direction.