Be prepared
Planning Ahead for Your Loved One’s Health
Emergencies happen when we least expect them. For seniors, most visits to the emergency department or urgent care are crisis situations — sudden falls, confusion, shortness of breath, or other urgent medical issues. In these moments, families are often unprepared, scrambling to gather critical information while every minute counts.
Being prepared ahead of time can make a life-changing difference. When you have key information on hand - medical history, medications, emergency contacts, care preferences, and copies of insurance cards — first responders and healthcare providers can act quickly and safely. It reduces stress, ensures your loved one gets the right care, and gives you peace of mind knowing you are ready for the unexpected.
At HALO, we encourage families to create a simple, organized Emergency Information Sheet for every senior in your care. This one-page guide helps you communicate important details instantly:
- Current medications and allergies
- Primary care and specialist contacts
- Recent hospitalizations and medical history
- Safety needs and mobility considerations
- Legal documents like Advance Directives or Power of Attorney (POA) and/or Medical Power of Attorney (MPOA) forms
- Copies of insurance and identification cards
Custom Emergency Information Card
$15.00
In a crisis, every second counts. Our wallet-sized Emergency Information Card makes it easy to keep your loved one’s critical health details right at your fingertips. Whether you’re meeting EMS at the door, heading to urgent care, or communicating with hospital staff, this card ensures you never have to scramble for information again.
Designed in the size of a standard credit card, it’s durable, discreet, and easy to carry wherever you go. Perfect for caregivers, family members, home health staff, and anyone supporting an aging or medically fragile loved one.
why yearly medicare wellness cheacks at 65+ are essential
Establish a Baseline
At 65, most individuals are still independent and functioning well. The wellness check documents cognitive function, mood, mobility, chronic conditions and vital signs.
Early Detection of Cognitive Changes
A simple screening test during the visit can pick up early memory changes long before symptoms can become obvious. Early awareness:
- Helps rule our reversible causes (medication side effects, vitamin deficiencies, dehydration and infections)
- Allows for planning, safety measures and treatment options
- Reduces hospitalizations and crisis situations
Monitoring Changes Year Over Year
Dementia usually progresses gradually. Comparing today's results to last year's helps identify meaningful changes that families may not notice day-to-day.
Chronic Medication and Chronic Disease Review
Conditions like diabetes, high blood pressure, heart disease and sleep apnea increase the risk of cognitive decline. Regular wellness visits help keep these conditions controlled.
Advance Care Planning
The Annual Wellness Visit also allows discussion of preferred care, decision-making and completing necessary documents before a crisis occurs.
Why this Matter for Families
Most families seek help only after a fall, sudden confusion, wandering or a dramatic change in behavior. By encouraging seniors to complete their Medicare Wellness Checks annually, families can:
- Spot health problems early
- Prevent avoidable hospitalizations
- Understand when changes are "normal aging" versus concerning
- Have documentation ready if memory issues begin
- Prepare for future care needs with less stress and uncertainty