I haven't been in that particular situation but I think that your idea of a treatment journal is a good idea. That way everyone has access to all the information and medications. An on-line one would give you all access to everything that's going on. I sure others will have some more good ideas.

That's what we're thinking Mrs S. Sounds like we're on the right track

Always have a medicine list and take it to the doctor including any supplements, teas, or other foods and drinks that are used to stay or improve health. Some of the healthy foods can cause problems when combined with medicines. I have posted that because I am low thyroid soy and cabbage family interacts with what I take as an example. Although it is nice for everyone to be on the POA it will cause confusion with medical staff. Have one or two people in the group appointed to talk to and agree to any medical things the doctors want to do. If one person states to do something and another disagrees you may end up with both a big fight and a guardian being appointed for clarity of care. I have seen this happen more than once.

I have setup a private fb site to provide family information which prevents multiple calls wanting to know how my husband is. I post general information such as I saw him and how he looks on my general page for those of my friends who care for both of us. You could also list the medicines on it but I would rather keep those separate.

I like the private Facebook idea; that is fantastic! It's just about all I do on Facebook, check on friends and families. It's a good way to disseminate information in a way that takes a huge burden off.

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Good thing we're all in agreement about her. I know we're an anomaly, but so far, any one of us can speak for the entire group. So happy for that! We do live close and see each other as often as we want and need. Met at church this week to get everyone up to speed this time. Then, we all went to her house and did all that she's been unable to do. We teamed up. My bro got the boys into picking up boxes and putting them in the attic. Sis got the cat litter and trashes. I looked for checkbook stuff and talked to her about medical care. It was a nice effort.

As in a work situation involving teams, one or a few may do something or learn something that others need to know about. A message or memo takes care of it.

Shared Google docs is an easy way to do it.

I noticed you mentioned checkbook stuff. Use the electronic banking feature with her bank to keep track of the checks. For most you will have the ability to print out both front and back of the checks and you can do it 24/7 unless the bank is updating their system. My bank only allows this of a year and one month so I would suggest printing them out every month or as you have time. You could assign one of your family to do this. As mentioned in another thread if there appears that there may be scamming happening sign up to have electronic notifications. For others reading this that may be looking for Medicaid assistance within the next 5 years having those checks for any bigger purchases could help with what is called "spend down" if the purchases are for the person you are assisting.

Use your cell phone to take a picture of each prescription label. Then you can send it to the others and they will be handy when visiting the doctor, hospital, etc.

My mother has Azheimers and is in a facility. I do handle most things but we have set up a separate group on facebook and we just call it All about Mom. My mom's children and her brother are on it. If someone goes to visit and has a comment or question that's where it goes, if someone has a suggestion or a worry then that's where it goes. It saves a ton of phonecalls.

maifleur, what's accomplished by printing out checks, in this case or in any other? For rob's mother and the shared family info, anyone making or learning of a payment could enter it in a shared spreadsheet on Google Docs. That would be always available to everyone (in the permitted group) anywhere, anytime. No paper needed.

Elmer I had to become my husband's guardian and conservator because he was more stubborn than I was and waited until too late for a POA. A sudden UTI with complications caused him to loose both his ability to speak and walk. Although rob's family does have POA others may have a similar problem that I had. Even rob if his mother would need to use Medicaid would have to provide proof beyond a spreadsheet that any repairs to his mother's house went to the repairer rather than to rob or another family member. Most courts although they will accept a spreadsheet from an attorney want to have backup proof of the payments made on behalf of a person. Each year I have to provide copies of the bank statements and checks to my attorney to fill out that spreadsheet. Last year I had a problem providing copies of checks that were older than 13 months when the attorney lost their copy. Which is why the year and a month comment.

If a person would need to used Medicaid there is a look back period of 5 years for major expenses. If people think they might need to use Medicaid having a copy of those checks is easier and cheaper than paying a bank to make copies for you.

I used to scan those documents into my computer until my last one had an issue and self destructed. The checks can be scanned but always keep a second record somewhere.

I prefer google docs to private facebook page. Do the doctors have portals that you and your family can access? Docs put up lab results, summaries of visits, and meds prescribed on the portal.

I did the google doc thing and I was the sole caretaker. Probably goes without saying but also useful to list all the medical specialists and contact details.

maifleur, I'm sorry about your husband's illness and I hope you're able to deal okay with the situation you have. There's no need to go into details but I believe there are ways to do the necessary reporting without making copies of checks or paying a lawyer's office to do spreadsheet data entry for bank transactions.

Elmer in this county as in many counties in this state for anything dealing with the Probate Court you must hire an attorney and all documents must be submitted via an attorney. If I lived in the next one to the west it would not be necessary. Each area of this country handles things differently. Ask people that you know who have dealt with these things how it was handled or do a search for the requirements where you live. You probably will be in for a shock. Perhaps someone who has helped a family member apply for Medicaid can respond with what type of documents if any were needed to prove expenditures.

I do have some familiarity with this area but this isn't an appropriate place for a conversation, neither for you nor for me. Suffice it to say that most bank websites allow downloads of transactions in a format directly readable into a spreadsheet so data entry work should be minimal.

Also, as far as I know, unless a will or the estate's transactions are being contested, probate courts require reports but they don't perform any kind of substantiation or review function. Thus - source documents like checks shouldn't be required. I do know practices vary from place to place.

Good luck and best wishes.

Probably goes without saying but also useful to list all the medical specialists and contact details.

Please be sure to say! I may not have thought of the obvious. This hadn't occurred too me. Undoubtedly, there's more staring me in the face I'm ignoring/oblivious to.

rob you can find some information that you may need in the future over in the Caregivers forum. Not very active but some of the older advice is good as your mom needs more assistance.

I recently cared for an elderly patient with dementia, who had 3-4 different caregivers (family & paid) over the week. The family brought with a spiral notebook that stays with the patient, they bring it to all her medical appointments.

The notes included when the patient complained of something, including date, time, severity, how long it lasted, what they did to treat it, and the response. Also included was when a medication was stopped or a new medication was started There were not notes written for every day ---- only things that were new or different were written down and they read each others notes. It was quite helpful. Low tech, but easily accessible.

Good luck.

mdln, that helps the most. I keep thinking if we just had something that stays with her, when one of us goes to the hospital/doctor appointment. We've gotten to where each is going in the cabinet to figure out her meds. She's not keeping up with it. That's new. Long ago she printed out a list and we all kept it on hand in our wallet.

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She's been through so MANY medications since October that she isn't keeping them straight and neither are we. She'd been put on an antidepressant (she fell after knee surgery and hit her head which continues to hurt (three months?!) is what started this spiral) and thought she wasn't supposed to take it any more??? for some reason. Probably because she's prescribed so many new things, she has no clue which one is being replaced by the new one. She also quit taking her potassium and asthma meds, because she didn't feel like getting out of bed. Talk about a cycle. I really like the idea of using Google docs for uploading the treatment/care sheets (I'm not sure her facility utilizes EHR, but I surely love using my facility's healthcare portal) and living wills where any family member can get to them.

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I think the combo will be the most helpful.

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P.S. maifleur and elmer, she already has all her bank statements and checks printed out and in notebooks. If she quit, we could catch up pretty easily at this point. I assume we'll have her back on track to living without us helping her soon. She has only had these ills three months and was well on her way back to running and jumping until she got the concussion. Crossing my fingers!

My doctor always gives a print out regarding that visit. Maybe it can be emailed to siblings after each visit. Also I highly recommend you only go to one pharmacy for ALL medications. They can always run a report for you. Walgreens you can just pull it up and see everything she is on. Best of luck to all of you.

that printout is what we're uploading into Google docs :)

Here's a reason to have a printed copy of med/history. Recently I was at a drs. office and they didn't allow the use of smart phones to give information. Their policy is if you take out your phone the visit is over. So the doc can stare at the screen entering info but the patient can't look at their screen. I won't be returning to them.

No advice but I’m so glad others have stepped up to help so it’s not all on you, Rob.

I think a log book is a good idea and I like the idea of the FB group page. When I had my sister here last December and took over her prescriptions because she was over medicating herself I had the pharmacy put all her prescriptions in blister packs with the time of day she was to take them. All the pills were in a blister pack book because she took so many pills. I am happy you are not going this alone and have the family to help you, Sorry, I didn't read all the responses so my suggestion may not be helpful.

She doesn't have a concussion?! After three months of fighting them to fix her pain level, with them telling her it was temporary, two CAT scans, two MRIs and I've lost track of the ER visits, she has a nerve impingement. They want to do surgery. Worked her in yesterday to be seen today (bad enough they did it how fast? her appointment with them to read the MRI was in April. They know they screwed up?). Ugh. But the good news is, it might be an overnight relief of her pain. And back on the road to being herself. Whew. I will assume that will happen and all of this has been a trial run for the real thing to be seen in another five-ten years. She's not ready to hang up driving and being on her own yet.

Depending on where the nerve is impinged she may need to go to a rehab center. So do not be surprised when it is suggested. There will probably be therapy which may be easier on you and your family for another to do. Seeing the pain that the stretching etc. causes to get the muscles where they should be often stops family members from insisting. A side effect of this will allow your mom to see what happens at a home. Here the live in rehab centers are almost always part of nursing homes. Hopefully it will be a good one so that when it becomes necessary she may see it as a good thing.

She just finished PT for her knee and they came to her house the first two weeks, and followed up with outpatient at the hospital. I hope that's the way we'll do it (if necessary) when the time comes. I actually asked for PT instead of, or until they got the MRI reading done in April. We're ready to tackle her being free however it can be done. She is really ready.