How to Prepare for a Health Emergency Before It Happens

Build a simple plan that works under stress

Emergencies are chaotic, which is why your plan should be short, visible, and ready to use. Start by choosing one central spot at home for critical documents and label it clearly. Tell two trusted people where it is. Create a wallet card and a phone lock-screen note with your name, allergies, diagnoses, medications, and two emergency contacts in senior livingScottsdale.

Create an easy-to-grab medical packet

Include photocopies or printouts of:

• Current medication list with doses and timing

• Insurance cards, photo ID, and physician names

• Advance directive, health care proxy, and any POLST form

• Recent summary from your primary clinician

Store a duplicate set in a freezer bag near the main entrance so first responders can find it quickly. Add a small cash envelope for cabs or parking if you are discharged unexpectedly.

Make the home responder-friendly

Place a prominent house number, a porch light with a working bulb, and a visible note listing pets. Install a lockbox and share the code with your trusted contacts and local responders if your area allows it. Keep a charged flashlight and an extra phone charger by the door. If you use mobility aids, position a backup cane or walker within reach of the bedroom.

Build a personal go-bag

Pack comfortable clothing, non-slip socks, spare glasses, hearing aid batteries, toiletries, a small notebook, and a pen. Add a list of baseline symptoms so staff at retirement communities can compare changes. If you track vitals at home, include a recent log.

Coordinate people and technology

Ask two friends or neighbors to be your emergency pair. One rides along or meets you at the hospital. The other alerts the family, waters plants, and secures the home. Enable medical ID on your phone and consider a wearable with fall detection if balance is changing.

Practice once, then revisit

Do a five minute drill. Set a timer, gather your packet and go-bag, and call your emergency pair to confirm they can answer. Put a calendar reminder every three months to update medications and contacts. If you participate in community programs or live in a residential setting such as assisted living, ask staff where they store medical packets, how they coordinate transport, and which number families should call first. A plan that is visible, shared, and practiced turns a hard day into a manageable one.