It’s not tough when a crisis erupts to jump in and do what has to be done. It can be scary, though, and there’s usually a lot to worry about. After the crisis is over, though, you have to be able to cope and be ready for the next thing that comes along. Hopefully you’ve got plenty of time between now and the next big situation to put your plan in motion.
Address Safety as Much as Possible
The first thing to do, especially if your senior is about to come home from a hospital or rehab facility, is to address any potential safety issues now. Get advice from her doctors about what that means for your elderly family member and get started right away. By the time she’s ready to get home, you’ll hopefully be as prepared as possible.
Prepare Now for the Next Unexpected Situation
Speaking of being prepared, this probably isn’t the last crisis you and your senior will go through together. It pays for you to learn from this one and get yourself ready for whatever happens next. Organize her paperwork and make sure you’re staying on top of things. When you’ve got a system that works for you, you’ll have what you need in an emergency.
Stay in the Loop
It’s possible that once this emergency passes, you won’t be in as much contact with your senior’s doctors as you were during the crisis. It’s important that you stay in the loop with them as much as you can, though. That might not mean that you’re there for every doctor’s appointment, but you can find ways to stay informed. Doing so leaves you in a much more informed spot for the next time you have to be the primary contact person for your senior.
Line up Help Now
You know what this crisis was like and any additional ones are likely to be similar, especially if your senior has significant health issues. Bringing in-home care providers now gives your senior the help that she needs now and gives you a chance to know that she’s in good hands. Also, if your senior’s needs do increase significantly, she’ll already have experience with accepting help from in-home care services.
Being prepared for a crisis doesn’t mean that you’re trying to create one. It just means that you’re doing everything you can to be as ready as you can be.