5 Nov 2008
The Caregivers Corner - November 9, 2008
Dear Mary,
I recently came across your column “Caregiver’s Corner” on HomeTownAnnapolis.com and after seeing your response to a reader regarding the importance of medication adherence, I wondered if you knew about Intelecare Compliance Solutions’ free service. Intelecare is a healthcare technology company focused on increasing medication adherence with our proprietary web-based messaging platform that sends patient and caregiver created medical reminders via email, text and voice messaging. Patients and caregivers visit our website, Intelecare.com, to create their account and manage their reminders for daily medications, prescription refills, doctor’s appointments and vital statistic monitoring. Users decide what reminders they want and how and when they want them delivered. We currently have 3.4 million users with 1.8 million identifying themselves as “Family Caregivers”.
Alex Sicre
Intelecare Compliance Solutions, Inc.
Dear Ms Sicre,
Thank you for the timely and valuable resource. I’m sure many readers will take advantage of this free service.
Dear Mary,
I have a concern and hope you can help me. My husband has dementia and, although he functions fairly well, is not able to handle problems. He and I have discussed our records, where things are located, etc, but he knows if something happened to me he wouldn’t know what to do. This got me thinking that if something did happen to me, how would anyone know I was a caregiver? I keep this kind of information in my wallet, but don't always have it with me. Do you have any suggestions about how I, and other caregivers, can let emergency personnel know there is loved one at home who needs help?
Dear Reader,
The Alzheimer’s Association Safe Return Program has a “Medic Alert” service that addresses this problem. Caregivers register in a national data base and receive a bracelet to wear with a telephone number for emergency personnel to call. They are told who you are caring for and who you want contacted. You can enroll today by calling 1-888-572-8566.
Dear Mary,
My eighty-nine year old father suffers from congestive heart failure and advanced dementia. My siblings and I are in agreement that we want him to die peacefully at home as he requested long ago. However, a neighbor says we could be charged with neglect if he dies and no one called 911 to help him. We don’t want him to receive CPR but know the paramedics are obligated to do it. How do we get around this technicality?
Dear Reader,
The Maryland Institute for Emergency Medical Services Systems (MIEMSS) offers a Do Not Resuscitate (DNR) and Medical Care Order form for the home that, when signed by a physician or nurse practitioner, informs emergency medical personnel not to resuscitate a person who has stopped breathing. If the form is presented after CPR is started, it gives them permission to discontinue it. You can down load the form from the website www.miemss.org or call 410-706-3994.
I urge you to consider calling Hospice to help you during this time. They will provide your father with comfort care as well as emotional support for the family. They can also take care of any legal documents and help with other concerns you may have. Please call the Hospice Network of Maryland at 410-729-4571 to find one in your area.
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