As your parents age, it’s important that you are more involved in their health. When you were a child, they took you to the doctor, checked in on your bumps and bruises, and ensured that we had the medications & vaccinations. Now the tables are turning and there’s a special role that you can play to help them stay healthy.
While your parents are under ~55 and healthy with no major ailments, most of us can take a hands-off approach. However, at some point, there will be a trigger where you realize that you need to be more involved. It may be a sudden fall, a cancer diagnosis, a hospitalization, or whatever [INSERT OH SH*T IS MY PARENT GOING TO DIE?] moment. Get your stuff in order before that moment happens. You’ll be less stressed, happier, and prepared to handle whatever comes your and your parent’s way.
My brother & I learned this lesson all too well In 2018 when my mother was diagnosed with cancer. After handling the sudden shock, we did our best to “prepare” the best way that we could. In the midst of demanding full-time jobs, travel, hobbies, and social gatherings, we decided to get more involved in our mom’s health. Through our journey, we learned that we need to have key information easily accessible, to know what’s going on with their health, and to be prepared in the event of an emergency. You want your parents to thrive for as long as they can so use the tips in this article to help you maintain a healthy, happy family.
1. Document Key Information
The first proactive step you can take is to gather document key information about your parents’ health providers. By gathering critical information you’ll be all set in case of emergency.
- Health Insurance – What are their insurance plan details? Get a copy of their health id cards (front & back)
- Primary Care Doctor / Dentist – Who are the main people they see for their health? Document the name, phone number, & email of their primary care provider, dentist, & any specialists they see regularly.
- Life Insurance – Do they have life insurance? If so, get a digital copy of the policy agreement.
- Prescriptions – What medications are they taking? Have your parents take pictures of all the pill bottles that they have in their medicine cabinet.
2. Understand your parents’ current situation
The second proactive step you can do is to understand what’s going on with your parents’ health today. Your mission is to learn if they have any recurring ailments, undiagnosed symptoms, or key appointments coming up like mammograms or cancer screenings. By getting a good sense of their current state, you can help them practice preventative medicine and handle whatever health situations arise.
- Present Day – How are they feeling today? Are there any ailments that they are currently experiencing? If so, then listen a bit more intently with the symptoms they raise. You don’t have to act now but take note of anything that sounds out of the ordinary.
- Nagging Issues – Have they been diagnosed with anything in the past few years? Ask your parents about diabetes, high blood pressure, heart issues, strokes?
- Future Concerns – Do they have any concerns about their health that may come up soon?
3. Know Your History
Part of what can help you build a better picture of your parents health and by extension your family is to understand your family health history.
- Complete Your Family History Form – On most medical intake forms, you have to answer a set of family history questions. Poll your parents their answers! You’d be surprised what you might learn. Understand what your grandparents and parents’ grandparents died from or what ailments they had.
- Leverage technology to learn about your roots – Technology-driven products like 23andme.com or ancestry.com provide different views into your heritage and potential clues for how your parents and eventually you may behave or face.
4. Get Boots on the Ground
The last proactive step you can take is to build the network of people who can support if needed. This may be hands-on support like visiting or checking in or providing local information or referrals. This is especially important if you live in a different location than your parents so that you have a group of people who you can tap into to help.
- All in the Family – Who are the doctors, nurses, pharmacists, lawyers in the family? Make sure that you have their contact info. They will know the best people in their industry, have referrals, or be able to guide you on basic decisions.
- Friends – Who are your parents’ close friends? Get their names, phone numbers, and addresses if needed. If you can’t reach your parents or are worried about something, they may be a good second stop.
You have a busy life, your parents will need your help, and you can get prepared. All of these things are true so take action to set you and your family up for success.
To Do: Schedule a 45 min call with your parents to talk through their health. Go through the questions in each of these steps and you’ll thank yourself later.
