Member Care
Advance Directives
It’s important for our members to take an active role in their healthcare choices. It may be hard to think about, but your loved one should decide what their healthcare choices are if they become too sick to make those decisions.
Discuss creating a living will or designating a power of attorney with your loved one. This information can be provided to you, the member’s Care Team, and primary care doctors.
When to Contact your Care Manager
Your loved one’s Care Manager is there to support you. They are an important part of the Care Team. There are many reasons you may need to be in contact with them. Some examples of when you should call your loved one’s Care Manager are:
- Change in condiction
- ER visit or hospital admission
- Fall or injury
- Urinary Tract Infection (UTI)
- Not all agreed upon services are being provided
- New diagnosis or medication
- Assistance with finding or changing providers
- Difficulty scheduling an appointment
- Change in living environment or work arrangement for loved one
- Need for additional training
- Durable Medical Equipment (DME) in need of repair or replacement
When to Go to the Emergency Room
An emergency situation is when a life could be in danger. It is also when a person could be permanently hurt or disabled without care.
Examples include:
- Difficulty breathing
- Severe chest pain
- Severe bleeding
- Sudden changes in being able to move, speak, or feel sensations in your arm or leg
- Poisoning
- Fainting
- Sudden mental status changes
- Coughing or vomiting blood
- Sudden onset of a severe headache, especially the “worst headache of your life”
- Suicidal or homicidal thoughts
- Severe vomiting or diarrhea
- Behavioral health emergency
Severe injuries also need immediate care. Examples are:
- Burns
- Cuts
- Extreme joint pain or swelling
- Broken bones
If an emergency situation happens, go to the closest emergency room. If the person is unable to move or it is not safe to move the victim, call 911.
After receiving care, your loved one should always call their doctor within 24 hours and schedule a follow up visit.
If the condition needs treatment within 24 hours but is not life threatening, visit an urgent care center or call your doctor to receive advice and schedule an appointment.
Respite
Caregiving can feel like a full-time job, and everyone needs a break at times. This can be helpful for you and your loved one to give you time to connect with others and recharge.
Respite can range from a 30-minute break to taking a short vacation. Call your loved one’s Care Manager to learn more, or explore the options through your local Area Agency on Aging.