I am subscribed to my local Community Alarm Service, which means that I have a little pendant round my neck, and if I fall and press the button, they will come and pick me up. The problem is that by that point I'm generally too exhausted to speak or think straight, let alone to explain to them clearly exactly what I need. And they're primarily used to dealing with elderly people and not used to how ME works, so in the past they have overestimated how well I am and left me before they really should have, because they didn't know any better and I wasn't up to communicating what I needed.
The plan is to print out an emergency care plan on a piece of brightly-coloured card and keep it in the top drawer of my bedside cabinet. I'm also thinking of printing out another card with basic details of how ME works. I find this sort of thing quite difficult, so I'd love to have some help with putting it together. Here are some notes I briefly jotted down the other day, in no particular order.
Emergency Instructions for Calathea
Partner: name, phone numbers, work (1 min away)
Doctor - name, medical centre, phone number (2 min away)
Check if Calathea needs to go to the toilet and if she needs help getting there and back.
Check if Calathea needs to have something to eat or drink. Should be a packet of oatcakes in top drawer of white bedside chest.
Help getting dressed, where clothes are (knickers, socks, bras, cotton top, trousers, sweater/cardigan)
When to call the Doctor....
May well look absolutely fine no matter how ill she is - don't be deceived!
Check if Calathea is speaking coherently - full sentences, can answer several questions at length, not muddling words/ can stand or sit up without falling over/
long recovery time from fall
is cold - if can't get her warm, call partner and possibly doctor. Extra layers, rolled up light blue blanket down her side of bed, heat pad down her side of bed, quilt on sofa. Thermometer on bedside table by metal water bottle if needing to check temperature.
Any medication needed / symptoms bothering her- list of symptoms- pain/ headache/ feeling sick/ dizziness , where it is
If Calathea needs to go to hospital: handbag, shoes, clothes (where things are), mobile phone, folding walking stick
Info on ME.....
Glasses
Where meds are
Ask questions more than once in case Calathea getting the answer wrong. If she can't understand, don't speak louder, try rephrasing the question.
to carer - were you in the room with her when she fell? did you see if she hit her head?
has Calathea taken any medication?
Always ask specific questions instead of general questions (put at top)
bag for emergencies
The plan is to print out an emergency care plan on a piece of brightly-coloured card and keep it in the top drawer of my bedside cabinet. I'm also thinking of printing out another card with basic details of how ME works. I find this sort of thing quite difficult, so I'd love to have some help with putting it together. Here are some notes I briefly jotted down the other day, in no particular order.
Emergency Instructions for Calathea
Partner: name, phone numbers, work (1 min away)
Doctor - name, medical centre, phone number (2 min away)
Check if Calathea needs to go to the toilet and if she needs help getting there and back.
Check if Calathea needs to have something to eat or drink. Should be a packet of oatcakes in top drawer of white bedside chest.
Help getting dressed, where clothes are (knickers, socks, bras, cotton top, trousers, sweater/cardigan)
When to call the Doctor....
May well look absolutely fine no matter how ill she is - don't be deceived!
Check if Calathea is speaking coherently - full sentences, can answer several questions at length, not muddling words/ can stand or sit up without falling over/
long recovery time from fall
is cold - if can't get her warm, call partner and possibly doctor. Extra layers, rolled up light blue blanket down her side of bed, heat pad down her side of bed, quilt on sofa. Thermometer on bedside table by metal water bottle if needing to check temperature.
Any medication needed / symptoms bothering her- list of symptoms- pain/ headache/ feeling sick/ dizziness , where it is
If Calathea needs to go to hospital: handbag, shoes, clothes (where things are), mobile phone, folding walking stick
Info on ME.....
Glasses
Where meds are
Ask questions more than once in case Calathea getting the answer wrong. If she can't understand, don't speak louder, try rephrasing the question.
to carer - were you in the room with her when she fell? did you see if she hit her head?
has Calathea taken any medication?
Always ask specific questions instead of general questions (put at top)
bag for emergencies
