As we age, our body goes through a long list of physical changes: a natural decline in muscle strength and bone density, joint stiffness, slower reflexes, as well as age-related vision and hearing impairments. While very common (and completely natural!), these changes can sometimes lead to unexpected emergencies such as a risky fall or aging-related illnesses that can impact your ability to perform day-to-day activities.
Being prepared for emergencies is essential to ensuring safety, well-being, and quality of life as we get older.
Why Anticipating Emergencies is Important
As we get older, our risk of sudden health issues—like falls, heart attacks, strokes, or cognitive declines—tends to increase. These emergencies can often catch families off guard, leading to rushed decisions, emotional distress, and financial strain. Anticipating emergencies helps:
- Improve response times: When a plan is already in place, you can act quickly in the event of a health crisis.
- Reduce stress and confusion: Knowing that there’s a structured approach to handling emergencies gives family members and caregivers peace of mind.
- Provide better care: By planning ahead, you can ensure your loved one’s medical preferences are honored, and they receive appropriate care without unnecessary delays.
- Preserve independence: Addressing potential declines before they happen can help older adults stay independent longer by creating a safer environment and planning for home support.
Assess Current Health Risks and Talk to Your Primary Care Physician
The first step to anticipating emergencies is assessing your current health risks. This includes:
- Medical history: Take note of chronic conditions like heart disease, diabetes, or high blood pressure, which can contribute to sudden health events.
- Cognitive health: Monitor for signs of memory decline or cognitive disorders such as dementia, which can lead to wandering, confusion, or unsafe behaviors.
- Mobility: Evaluate mobility issues or balance problems that increase the risk of falls, a leading cause of injury in seniors.
- Medications: Understand the medications your loved one is taking, as drug interactions or missed doses can lead to serious complications.
Make sure to include your primary care physician (PCP) in these conversations, so they can help you prepare for any anticipated complications. Having regular check-ups with your PCP or healthcare providers will give you insights into what to expect and how best to prepare for potential health crises.
Research and Prepare for the Most Common Health Emergencies
Once you’ve taken stock of your personal health risks and talked to your primary care physician, the next step is to develop an emergency plan for some of the most common emergencies faced by older adults.
Falls
Falls are one of the most frequent emergencies among older adults. Reduce fall risks by ensuring the home is free of tripping hazards like loose rugs and clutter, installing grab bars in bathrooms, improving lighting, and encouraging the use of mobility aids if needed.some text
Emergency Plan: Keep a phone nearby at all times, install medical alert systems, invest in an Apple watch or another smart watch, and know which local emergency services can respond quickly.
Heart Attacks and Strokes
Heart disease and stroke are leading causes of death in seniors. Familiarize yourself with the warning signs of a heart attack, such as chest pain and shortness of breath, as well as strokes, like sudden numbness, weakness, or paralysis in the arms, legs or face (particularly if it’s on one side of the body), sudden confusion or difficulty speaking, or sudden dizziness or loss of balance.some text
Emergency Plan: Post your emergency contact numbers, including your primary care physician and cardiologist, in a visible place and keep a copy in your wallet. Ensure you know the nearest hospital and have transportation options ready in case of an emergency — time is of the essence in these cases. Talk to your loved ones about the warning signs, and see if they’d be willing to get a CPR certification to help out until emergency response teams can arrive. Wear a heart rate sensor bracelet that will alert you if it notices any irregularities in your heart rate.
Cognitive Decline and Wandering
Older adults with Alzheimer’s or other forms of dementia are at risk of wandering and becoming disoriented. This can result in dangerous situations where they get lost or hurt.some text
Emergency Plan: Consider enrolling your loved one in a program like the the MedicAlert and Alzheimer’s Association Safe Return (888-572-8566) or getting a GPS tracking device. If wandering is a concern, secure exits and notify neighbors or local authorities of the situation. Create a list of places the person might wander to, such as past jobs, former homes, places of worship or a favorite restaurant. Ask neighbors, friends and family to call if they see the person wandering, lost or dressed inappropriately. Keep a recent, close-up photo of the person on hand to give to police, in case of emergencies.
Medication-Related Emergencies
If you are taking multiple medications, you are at increased risk of medication errors or side effects. Accidental mismanagement can lead to serious complications like overdoses, missed doses, or dangerous interactions.some text
Emergency Plan: Set up a medication management system, such as pill organizers or automated reminders, to ensure consistency. If an overdose or adverse reaction occurs, call 911 right away. Make sure to have the Poison Control number and your doctor’s contact information easily accessible.
Make Sure Your Legal Documents Are Accurate and Up-to-Date
Having your legal documents are in order, ensures important decisions are made quickly and in line with your loved one’s wishes during emergencies. Here are some legal documents to consider creating:
- Create a Living Will: A living will or advance directive outlines your loved one’s preferences for medical treatment, especially in situations where they can no longer communicate or make decisions on their own.
- Establish Power of Attorney: A durable power of attorney for healthcare and finances gives a trusted individual the authority to make decisions on behalf of your loved one, ensuring their health care and financial matters are managed appropriately.
- Update Financial Plans: Ensure that you are in control of your finances, and create a special emergency fund for any unexpected situations that may come up. Consider talking to a financial planner to prepare for the cost of long-term care. This might include setting aside funds for assisted living, in-home care, or skilled nursing facilities.
Understand Your Long-Term Care Options
In some cases, the best way to anticipate future health declines is to start exploring long-term care options. This could mean moving your loved one into an assisted living facility, memory care unit, or nursing home where they’ll have access to 24/7 care, or hiring a home health aide (HHA) to provide in-home care.
- Assess care needs: Talk with healthcare providers about whether it’s time to transition to a higher level of care.
- Tour facilities and start speaking to HHA agencies: Visit potential long-term care facilities and start initial conversations with HHA agencies to see which may be a best fit for you. Develop a detailed plan about your preferences, if the need for either should arise.
- Plan financially: Long-term care can be expensive, so it’s essential to understand the costs and explore options like long-term care insurance, Medicaid, or veterans' benefits.
Anticipating emergencies, planning ahead, and making proactive decisions are essential to making sure your needs are being met while minimizing stress and uncertainty in crisis situations. From creating legal documents and adapting the home environment to building a support network and exploring long-term care options, these steps will provide a solid foundation for navigating the challenges of aging.
