What To Bring to the ER for an Elderly Parent (Grab-and-Go List)
ER visits with an aging parent rarely happen at a convenient time. Having a short list, and ideally a packed bag, means you can focus on them instead of searching for paperwork.
The essentials
- ☐ Medication list with doses, plus allergies (template tips)
- ☐ One-page medical summary: diagnoses, surgeries, doctors, baseline (what's normal for them, like their usual memory and mobility)
- ☐ Insurance cards: Medicare, supplemental, drug plan, Medicaid
- ☐ Photo ID
- ☐ Copies of legal documents: health care power of attorney, advance directive, POLST/MOLST if any, HIPAA authorization (what these are)
- ☐ Doctor and pharmacy contacts
Comfort and practical items
- ☐ Glasses, hearing aids (and batteries), dentures
- ☐ Phone and charger (theirs and yours)
- ☐ A sweater or blanket; ERs are cold
- ☐ Snacks and water for you
- ☐ A notebook and pen
- ☐ A list of family to update
The "baseline" matters
ER teams don't know what your parent is usually like. Be ready to say, for example: "Normally she walks with a cane and does her own crossword. Today she can't stand and is confused." Changes from baseline are important clues.
Make a go-bag
Keep a folder or bag by the door with copies of the medical summary, medication list, legal documents and insurance cards. Update it after every appointment. Take a photo of each page so you have it on your phone too.
After the ER
If they're admitted, start a hospital log. If they're discharged, use the hospital discharge checklist.
If it's an emergency, call 911.
Not medical advice.
The Family Caregiver Binder's first section is exactly this: a medical summary, medication list and documents page designed to be grabbed on the way out the door.
Family Caregiver Binder — $14
19-page caregiver binder: medical summary, medication list and log, appointment log, discharge checklist, legal documents and a care tracker spreadsheet. Instant download: PDF + DOCX + XLSX.
Get the Family Caregiver BinderFamily Paperwork Bundle — $34More guides
- Caregiver Binder: What To Include (Printable Checklist)
- Medication List for an Elderly Parent: Free Template and Tips
- Questions To Ask the Doctor as a Caregiver
- Hospital Discharge Checklist for Caregivers
- HIPAA Authorization vs. Health Care Power of Attorney: What Caregivers Need
- FMLA for Caregivers: Can You Take Leave To Care for a Parent?
- Caregiver Burnout: Signs To Watch For and What Helps
- How To Share Caregiving With Siblings (Without Fighting)
- The Medicare Hospice Benefit, Explained for Families