For 24 hour senior care providers, being prepared in the event of a health or medical emergency is an important part of taking care of aging clients. Keeping an emergency kit handy in case you and your clients unexpectedly need to go to the hospital or doctor will make it easier for you to get out of the door and get help quickly. One thing it’s important to keep in an emergency kit is a document of important information you and the doctor may need during your clients’ treatment. Here’s what should be on these emergency documents:

- Your clients’ names, addresses and phone numbers
- Contact information for their family members and primary care doctors
- Insurance information
- Any medical conditions, allergies and special needs
- A list of medications, including dosages, what they’re for and the name of the doctor who prescribed them

If you provide senior care services for clients with dementia, it’s also a good idea to keep a list of any dementia behaviors and special requirements the seniors may have. If your senior clients have a living will, durable power of attorney or other legal documents regarding medical or end-of-life decisions, it’s important to include those with the emergency information sheet as well.