Which ID cards need to be with PWD

dancsfo · September 29

Which ID cards (like medical insurance card, state issued ID) ought to be in the PWD's residence for easy access? Likewise to be with person when going outside.

Today, prior to a medical appointment, they were all gone, along with wallet. I asked, and PWD denied owning a wallet, cash or any ID.

Fortunately, the medical office accepted a photocopy. After spending hours looking in shoes, freezer, underneath seat cushions, cereal boxes, etc. where things were hidden before, I found them between a mattress and box spring, which was a new place to find things hidden.

I can't hide it where she lives anymore, since PWD rummages. I can put it in a locked box (which she hates since she can't open it and can trigger agitation and she threw the box in the trash before).

I have a pink POLST card for emergency rescue people to find, but are the original state ID, medical cards needed readily for emergencies? I often read the numbers off when making appointments, etc., but I can just keep a photo of the cards around. There are digital versions for some cards, that one can store in Apple or Google Wallet. I need to copy or photograph the customer service phone numbers in the back of some cards too.

My concern is a car accident, or getting lost/wandering, and a rescuer or police will want to find an ID. I guess an ID bracelet is useful for this.

I think AirTags are useful for locating items, but hard to hear when stuffed underneath a mattress for example.

Damiross · September 29

I keep all of my wife's cards in my wallet. Thee are her California Benefits Identification Card, Medicare card, her health plan card, and her state identification card.

The cards, along with important papers (health directive, Social Security benefits verification, etc.) are stored on a folder on my laptop.

I also use Microsoft OneNote to keep a journal on my wife's behavior, notes for the doctors, etc. The basic features of OneNote are free. It is available for laptops and mobile devices. My only problem with OneNote is forgetting to use it. 😁

dancsfo · September 30

https://alzconnected.org/discussion/comment/254867#Comment_254867

Thanks. This seems like a good plan. I'm almost always with PWD, so it will work. Wandering is the case I need to address, but that is not yet a problem.

I too use tools like OneNote, and the data is sync'ed so it is available across devices.

Coincidentally, the medical appointment was a memory clinic visit with a dementia reassessment, so the situation was stressful already, and then to lose all ID cards on top of that. I fibbed about what the visit was about, so PWD did not resist too much about going, plus got some immunization shots which made a convenient excuse to go.

towhee · September 30

I think most people keep their LOs important cards themselves and provide the LO copies (and keep more copies themselves).

harshedbuzz · September 30

Mom kept dad's insurance and ID in her wallet. She filled dad's wallet with random loyalty cards and a couple $1 bills.

For elopement purposes, a PWD should be wearing some sort of Medic-Alert item. Ideally, this should be something they can't take off. If you are primary caregiver, you need to have a similar item in case you're incapacitated due to illness or injury as well. I personally like Road ID.

Registering your address via Smart911 is useful if it exists where you live. You can create a profile with names, medical history, medication, physicians, photographs, pets, etc that would be immediately available if you called 911.

HB

Which ID cards need to be with PWD

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