Good preparation helps you to get the right help quickly in an acute situation and to have important information to hand. At the same time, many risks at home can be identified and specifically reduced without unnecessarily restricting your independence.
01
Why being prepared makes a difference in an emergency
Acute illnesses and accidents cannot be completely prevented. However, you can prepare for how to act in an emergency and where to find the necessary information. In home care in particular, multiple conditions, medications, points of contact and specific support needs often come together.
Preparation does not mean constantly anticipating a crisis. It answers a number of practical questions in advance: Which number is the right one in which situation? Who should be informed? Which medicines and diagnoses are current? Are there any allergies, powers of attorney or special instructions? And who can take over if the primary carer is suddenly unavailable?
If this information is missing, relatives have to search, recall details and make decisions under time pressure. In the process, important information may be overlooked or passed on only incompletely. A brief, up-to-date overview, on the other hand, helps to describe the situation clearly and enables the ambulance service, on-call service, GP’s surgery or care service to assess the situation more quickly.
Safety also involves prevention in everyday life. Tripping hazards, poor lighting or an unsuitable aid can increase an existing risk. The aim is not to eliminate every risk. The environment should be designed to suit the actual abilities of the person requiring care and to maintain as much safe independence as possible.
Being prepared does not mean being in a constant state of alert. It ensures that, at the crucial moment, there is less need to search for things or improvise.
02
What kind of help is appropriate in which situation?
In a stressful situation, it is not always immediately clear which service to contact. A simple distinction helps with decision-making:
Emergency services 112
The 112 service is responsible for life-threatening situations and serious accidents. These may include, for example, severe breathing difficulties, loss of consciousness, clear signs of a stroke, severe chest pain or any other immediate life-threatening deterioration. If in doubt, describe the situation over the phone; the control centre will ask for the necessary information.
Out-of-hours medical service 116117
The 116117 service is available outside regular consultation hours for urgent medical complaints that would normally require a visit to a GP’s surgery but cannot wait until the next consultation hour. It is not intended for life-threatening emergencies.
General practitioner or specialist’s surgery
For non-acute changes, recurring symptoms, unusual developments or questions about treatment, your regular GP or specialist’s surgery is usually the appropriate point of contact. A brief written account helps to clearly describe the onset, frequency and accompanying circumstances.
Care service, home emergency call scheme or agreed contact person
These services can provide support with specific care tasks, familiar everyday situations or the agreed emergency call procedure. The type of assistance they can provide should be clarified in advance and recorded in the contact list.
It is easier to make a prepared call if you have the person’s name and address, current symptoms, when the change began, known medical conditions, medication and a callback number to hand. In the event of an emergency call, you should follow the control centre’s instructions and not end the call prematurely.
An emergency folder helps to provide the most important information quickly in an emergency. It should be easy to find, up to date and clearly organised. The key is not to collect as many documents as possible, but to organise the crucial information in such a way that relatives, the emergency services, the hospital or the care service can access it quickly.
An emergency folder should primarily contain:
Diagnoses
An up-to-date overview of known medical conditions, such as cardiovascular disease, diabetes, kidney disease, dementia, neurological disorders or other relevant diagnoses. Where possible, important previous medical reports or doctors’ letters should also be included.
Medications
The current medication schedule is particularly important. It should show which medicines are being taken, in what dosage, at what times and since when. Medication taken as and when needed, insulin, eye drops, plasters, ointments or inhalers should also be listed.
Allergies and intolerances
Any known allergies, drug intolerances or specific reactions should be clearly documented. This applies in particular to antibiotics, painkillers, contrast agents, plaster materials or food allergies.
Treating doctors
It is helpful to have an overview of the key points of contact: GP practice, specialists, hospital outpatient departments, and therapists. In addition to names, telephone numbers, addresses and, where applicable, consultation hours or specific areas of responsibility should be noted.
Care services and other services
If a care service, home emergency call scheme, outpatient hospice service, therapeutic service or any other organisation is involved, their contact details should also be included in the emergency folder. It is also important to note which services are provided on a regular basis and when the service usually visits.
Relatives and key contacts
The most important relatives or trusted individuals should be listed, along with their telephone numbers and their role. It should be clearly stated who should be informed first and who can assist with or make decisions.
Powers of attorney
If there is a lasting power of attorney, a care directive or any other legal authorisation, a copy should be included or, at the very least, the location where it is kept should be noted. Particularly in hospital, it can be important to be able to quickly prove who is authorised to provide information or make decisions.
Living will
An advance healthcare directive should be easy to find, if one exists. In addition, a note can be included stating where the original is kept and who has been informed of its existence. It is important that relatives know that this document exists and understand its significance in an emergency.
Hospital records
Up-to-date discharge letters, surgical reports, medical findings, laboratory results, implant cards or other important medical documents should be filed in an organised manner. Documents relating to recent hospital stays or current medical conditions are particularly relevant.
Clarify storage and access
A complete file is only of use if it can be found when needed. A fixed storage location should therefore be agreed upon. The person requiring care, relevant family members and any designated representative should know where the information is kept and how to access it. Sensitive documents should only be accessible to authorised persons.
Clearly define emergency contacts
In addition to the emergency folder, there should be a short, clearly visible list of emergency contacts. This list should not be tucked away in a thick folder, but should be easily accessible – for example, in the home, in the care records or in digital form for family members involved.
Useful emergency contacts include:
Ambulance service: 112
Out-of-hours medical service: 116117
GP’s surgery
Nearest relevant hospital or specialist outpatient clinic
Care service
Home emergency call system, if available
Primary carer
Other relatives or trusted individuals
Pharmacy
Emergency information should be reviewed at regular intervals and additionally following any significant changes. These include, in particular, changes to medication, new diagnoses, hospital admissions, a change in contact persons or a change in support needs. One person should be responsible for updating any out-of-date information and clearly recording the date of the review.
An emergency folder is reliable if it is up to date, easy to find and accessible to the intended recipients.
04
Identify and reduce risks at home
Not every accident at home can be prevented. However, certain factors can increase the risk: unsafe routes, poor lighting, declining strength, vision problems, dizziness or an aid that is no longer suitable for the situation. That is why not only the home but also the actual ability of the person requiring care should be regularly assessed.
Tripping hazards
Loose rugs, cables, door thresholds, objects left lying around or furniture that is difficult to reach can quickly become a hazard. In particular, frequently used routes should be as clear and safe as possible: from the bed to the toilet, from the living room to the kitchen, from the entrance to the bedroom. Even small obstacles can be problematic if someone is unsteady on their feet, uses a walking frame or has to get up at night.
Lighting
Good lighting helps to prevent falls. Hallways, stairs, bathrooms and the route to the toilet are particularly important. Night lights or motion sensors can be useful if the person requiring care gets up at night. Light switches should be easily accessible. Glare or strong shadows can also be distracting and should be avoided where possible.
Bathroom
The bathroom is one of the most important areas for safety at home. Wet floors, confined spaces and getting in and out of the shower or bath increase the risk of falling. Non-slip mats, grab rails, a shower stool, a raised toilet seat or a walk-in shower can be helpful. It is important that these aids are securely fitted and genuinely suitable for the person.
Stairs
Stairs should be well lit, free of obstructions and fitted with secure handrails. Where possible, handrails should be fitted on both sides. Non-slip stair tread markings can also help. If climbing stairs becomes increasingly difficult, it is important to assess at an early stage whether additional aids are needed, such as a stairlift, a reorganisation of the living space or support from others.
Home emergency call system
A home emergency call system can provide peace of mind, particularly if the person requiring care is occasionally alone or is at increased risk of falling. Help can be requested via an emergency call button, even if the telephone is out of reach. It is important that the device is worn as agreed and that the person knows how to use it.
Following a fall, a hospital stay or a significant change in strength, balance, vision or orientation, the existing safety arrangements should be reviewed. A previous solution may no longer be adequate; conversely, support should not impose greater restrictions than the current situation requires.
Safety at home does not mean eliminating every risk. It combines a suitable environment with as much retained independence as possible.
