Caregivers, Health Care Surrogates or Guardians of incapacitated or elderly individuals should follow guidelines from the Centers for Disease Control (CDC), and consider the following tips:
- Ensure that you have copies (physical or electronic) of the healthcare surrogate designation form or medical power of attorney, which designates you to make decisions for your incapacitated or elderly loved one in the event they cannot. If you are a Court Appointed Guardian, be sure to have a copy of the Order Appointing Guardian and Letters of Guardianship.
- Make a list of the current medications your loved one is taking, including the name of the medication (both prescription and over-the-counter), dosage and prescribing doctor. In the event of a medical emergency, this information is crucial for treating Paramedics or Emergency Room Doctors.
- If your loved one lives in a group home, assisted living facility, or nursing home, make contact with the administrator to provide your health care surrogate form or Court Order. Also, provide them with your emergency contact information and the emergency contact information of another family member or friend as a backup.
- If your loved one is receiving care from in-home care or community-based services, contact the different service providers and provide your health care surrogate form or Court Order. Create a place in your loved one’s home where your contact information is kept, along with the list of medications. All in-home providers should know where this information is in the event emergency medical treatment is needed and you are not present.
For more information, please contact us at info@mrtlaw.com or at 305.670.5000.
Markowitz Ringel Trusty + Hartog concentrates on the representation of businesses, institutions, fiduciaries, and individuals across several practice groups, which include Restructuring + Insolvency, Litigation + Dispute Resolution, Real Estate + Business, Probate + Guardianship, and Trusts + Estates. Dedication to clients and service to the community are the principles upon which Markowitz Ringel Trusty + Hartog was founded in 1980, and upon which it still operates today.