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274 K
ING
G
EORGE
R
OAD
| W
ARREN
, NJ 07059 | 908-903-0911
WWW
.
CHELSEASENIORLIVING
.
COM
It’s here!
New Independent Living!
Beautiful new apartments
for Seniors 65 and over
9
One & two bedroom apartments
9
Brand new, modern kitchens
9
Washer & dryer
9
Pre-wired for TV/internet
9
Underground parking
9
Monthly rental, no buy-in required
A
SSISTED
L
IVING
• I
NDEPENDENT
L
IVING
• M
EMORY
C
ARE
• R
ESPITE
S
TAYS
Open House
every Saturday 11am-2pm
Deposits being accepted. Call today: 908-903-0911
Calling 911 can be a heart-pounding
experience for anyone. But for older
people, it can be even more difficult
because of chronic illness, physical limi-
tations, memory loss and plain old fear.
The simple act of getting to a phone,
picking up the receiver and pushing
911 can take longer and be painful.
People who have been healthy all their
lives and are suddenly faced with an
injury or significant medical condition
may deny the need to call 911 (this, by
the way, happens in people of all ages).
People with Alzheimer’s disease or
dementia may forget why they called or
deny anything’s wrong once EMS
arrives. And patients who have been to
the hospital one too many times may
resist transport after a 911 call made by
a concerned loved one.
EMT’s and paramedics are trained to
observe and question all their patients
closely, including those with fading
memories or those reluctant to cooper-
ate. And, while mentally competent
adults can deny any treatment, emer-
gency responders are trained to err on
the side of caution and try to convince a
patient to go to the hospital. They may
be persistent if their experience tells
them a certain set of symptoms sug-
gests a serious condition, even if the
patient is adamant about not going.
This can be a difficult tightrope for med-
ical personnel to walk as they balance a
patient’s right of refusal against their
belief that a better outcome will result if
the patient is transported.
To make the whole 911 experience less
scary and frustrating if and when it hap-
pens, senior citizens and their families
can do some things to prepare:
• Legible house numbers.
Not being
able to find a house because the
number is missing or obscured adds
precious time to a 911 response.
Make sure the house number is easy
for police, fire and EMS responders to
see, especially at night.
• List medications and history.
Make a one-page list of your med-
ications, medical history, allergies
and primary doctor that you can sim-
ply hand to EMS personnel. Put your
full name and date of birth right at
the top. Keep it taped to the refrig-
erator or in some place where you
and your family members will find it.
This way, you won’t have to wrack
your brain to remember everything
at a stressful time.
• Keep DNR/POLST visible, or at
least handy.
For a
Do Not
Resuscitate
order to be honored by
police or EMT’s, they must see the
document for themselves. It’s not
enough just to say there’s a DNR. It
must be presented and have a valid
signature from a doctor. Keep it
handy, maybe even post it over the
patient’s bed. Remember that
Do
Not Resuscitate
doesn’t mean do not
treat. Short of doing CPR and defib-
rillation, emergency responders are
required to continue treating a
patient who is still alive unless the
patient is able to refuse.
• Know which hospital.
If you’ve
never had to go to a hospital emer-
gency room, check in advance with
your doctor(s) about which hospital
is best for you.
• Care of pets, home security.
Plan
ahead who will care for pets, who
will lock up and who, if anyone, will
have access to the home while
you’re in the hospital.
Older victims who do not suffer from
memory impairment are usually perfect-
ly capable of answering questions
about their condition. Thus, well mean-
ing family members who jump in and
answer questions posed by EMS per-
sonnel on behalf of their older loved
ones should be patient and chime in
only if asked. But do let EMS know if
mom or dad is hearing impaired or
requires a little extra time to formulate
an answer because of a past stroke or
other condition.
Let’s hope you never have to call 911
for any reason. But if you do, a little
advance planning can make the whole
experience go more smoothly.
Sources:
Tom Kranz, NJEMT; John Mateus, RN/MICN,
Less Stress Instructional Services
EMS AND OLDER PATIENTS
Submitted by the Chelsea, Senior Living
PAGE 77
Spotlight on
“SeniorS”
www.theconnectionsnj.com