Documents to have in one place in case of medical emergency

It may seem like there's plenty of time to get things done -- time to write a will, pay off debts, consider retirement, create end-of-life plans, select a health care proxy, and so on. In reality, waiting until later may create major problems.

Posted 12:00 p.m. Jul 27, 2022 — Updated 12:00 p.m. Jul 27, 2022

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It may seem like there’s plenty of time to get things done — time to write a will, pay off debts, consider retirement, create end-of-life plans, select a health care proxy, and so on. In reality, waiting until later may create major problems.

That’s why, along with the many benefits that aging brings, such as perspective, knowledge, descendants, and experience, it’s important to face another part of it: health issues. In fact, people 65 and older visit the emergency room at higher rates than any other age group, according to research published by the Healthcare Cost and Utilization Project.

Knowing you’re at higher risk of health problems with advanced age doesn’t have to scare you. But it can help you see the necessity of being prepared. That’s why you should create and file these documents and pieces of information in case of emergency, according to the National Institute on Aging:

Social Security card
Birth and death certificates of household members
Education and military records
Names and contact information for close friends and relatives
List of medications you take regularly
Location of living will with original signature
Sources of income, including pension, IRA, 401(k), and so on
Insurance information, including life, health, car, and home
Names of banks and account numbers
Mortgage and debt information and how they’re paid
Location of original deed of trust for home

Find a single place to keep all this information, and then tell trusted family members where it is.

Digital file saving

You may put originals or hard copies together in a folder or binder, but you can also use an electronic storage location.

“Important documents can exist in digital form on our smart phones, flash drives and cloud-based servers,” according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. “Digital documents are convenient, but with convenience, comes risk. It’s imperative that we secure our digital files with passwords and/or two-factor authentication.”

You can save electronic copies of paperwork in a password-protected format on an external hard drive, flash drive, or secure cloud-based service, according to the CDC. Family members will still need to be aware of where your drives are stored and what your passwords are to access devices and accounts.

Legally binding paperwork

Preparation for the future also includes recording health and financial decisions and ensuring any directives are legally witnessed or notarized. These forms should answer the following questions, according to Five Wishes advance care planning:

Who should make decisions for you when you can’t?
What kind of medical treatment do or don’t you want?
How comfortable do you want to be?
How do you want people to treat you?
What do you want loved ones to know?

Relevant legal documents may include a living will, health care proxy document, a Do Not Resuscitate form if applicable, and a Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act form that gives permission for information about your hospitalization or condition to be released to loved ones, according to Forbes.

“It is crucial that you have them in place before you have an emergency,” according to Forbes. “Of course none of us believe that we will ever need to use any of them but life can often surprise us.”

Preparing for life’s curveballs has the benefit of ensuring you and your loved ones are on the same page and know what to expect as much as possible when emergencies arise.

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