Organize Your Health

(ARA) – As kids head to summer camp or back to school this fall, moms everywhere will be digging through their files searching for immunization records and other health information. Some will find exactly what they need with just a few flips through an organized file cabinet. But many busy moms will be sifting through piles, shoe boxes, or drawers full of papers trying to find the most recent health records.

Managing health information, making appointments, keeping track of medications, and monitoring self-care recommendations are just a few of the routine tasks of today’s family health advocate, a role often played by mom. In addition to managing their kids’ health and their own, many moms are also in charge of managing health matters for their spouse or partner, and sometimes an elderly parent or other relative.

Taking care of yourself and your family can be overwhelming at times. Mayo Clinic suggests five tips for managing your family’s health:

1. Ask yourself a few questions.
Take a few minutes to sit down and figure out the questions you’ll most likely be asked in the event of an emergency or in common healthcare situations. If your child’s school nurse called today and asked for his health history, what details would you be able to provide? If your mother fell in the shower, would you have access to critical information needed by emergency caregivers?

2. Get organized.
It seems that health information is never where you need it, when you need it. An online tool like the Mayo Clinic Health Manager gives you the opportunity to store and update personal health records and those of your family members. This free and secure online application gives you a place to store medical information and receive real-time individualized health guidance and recommendations based on the expertise of the Mayo Clinic. You can give access to family members or your doctor and use the tool no matter where you receive medical care. The Mayo Clinic Health Manager isn’t just a place to store and organize your health information, it helps you become more active and engaged in your healthcare.

3. Make doctor visits more efficient.
The time you spend with your doctor is typically brief, but valuable. Take advantage of your time by arriving to the appointment prepared. Before you go, write down any questions you have so you don’t forget to ask them. Bring a list of any medications, vitamins and supplements you’re taking.

“I truly appreciate when my patients are actively engaged and informed about their health,” says Dr. Sidna Tulledge-Scheitel, a primary care physician. “The Mayo Clinic Health Manager can help patients share information more easily with their doctors and manage their own health better between office visits.”

4. Know and use your history to be more proactive.
Use the Mayo Clinic Health Manager to track wellness visits and immunizations for you and your family, as well as to gain control of medication schedules and chronic condition symptoms. Sharing this information with your doctor could help determine future treatment.

5. Build your health assets.
Finances, retirement savings and home equity are all viewed as long-term personal management projects, but people don’t often see their health the same way. Look at your health as a long-term investment and take steps to quickly address any issues while maintaining a healthy lifestyle.

For more information on the Mayo Clinic Health Manager and how to manage your family’s health, visit MayoClinic.com.

Courtesy of ARAcontent

Senior Legal Considerations

(ARA) – Baby boomers rocked Woodstock, protested wars, rallied for civil rights and today have a solid reputation as professionals who work hard and play harder. But as record numbers of boomers continue to age, their health problems rise in direct proportion. If you’re a member of this generation and haven’t yet made decisions about your late-in-life health care, someone else could make them for you.

Without explicit, documented directions about how you want your health care and end-of-life issues handled, decisions about your care will fall to someone else if you become ill and are unable to make your wishes known. Having an advance care plan will give you peace of mind, secure in the knowledge that your health care choices will be respected, even if you can’t communicate them.

An advance care plan ensures your care is customized to reflect your personal preferences and health needs, as well as any social, cultural or religious requirements. The Heart Failure Society of America has compiled information to explain the benefits of advance care planning that is helpful not only for those with a chronic condition, such as heart failure, but for anyone planning ahead for the future.

Important terms to know when beginning advance care planning include:

Advance care directive:
This document provides clear evidence of your wishes regarding treatment and can include a living will, a durable health care power of attorney and a statement about organ donation.

Do-not-resuscitate order:
This directive made by you (or your family, in consultation with the doctor) tells doctors, nurses and rescue personnel what they should or should not do when a person stops breathing or when their heart stops. A DNR order can also include instructions on whether or not to use different methods to revive a person.

Living will:
This legal document allows a person who is unable to participate in decisions about their medical care to express their wishes about life-sustaining treatment. A living will is typically used during a terminal illness when a person is unable to communicate. Through it, you can set limits on what medical treatments — such as CPR, blood transfusions, surgery, kidney dialysis or other invasive measures — you will allow.

Health care power of attorney:
This document allows someone you designate to make all health care decisions for you in the event you’re unable to make them for yourself. This includes the decision to refuse life-sustaining treatment. You can give someone a general power of attorney or limit their decision making to certain issues by including instructions about your care.

Financial plan:
If you and your family have concerns about paying for medical care or hospital bills, a financial plan can help you work out the issues and provide for your family in the event of your death.

Talk to a health care professional about where to find further information about advance care planning as well as to discuss various health care options. You may also wish to consult a lawyer to help ensure your plan meets state legal requirements and your individual wishes. While it may be a difficult discussion, be sure your family knows and understands your wishes for care. Discussing the issues in advance will make implementing them easier should it become necessary.  This advice is even more important if your have parents or older relatives who have not yet taken these steps. Please share these ideas with those you love.

For more information on advance care planning, visit the Heart Failure Society of America’s patient education Web site at www.AboutHF.org.

Courtesy of ARAcontent