Proactive Care Planning for COVID-19
Plan Ahead
Parkinson’s Foundation
PD Hospitalization Letter
Templated letter stating specific PD needs during a hospitalization. Can be signed by your primary treating neurologist.
Parkinson’s foundation
Staying Safe in the Hospital with PD
The experience of staying in the hospital, whether planned or unplanned, is stressful for anyone. For people who live with Parkinson’s disease (PD), hospital stays can be especially challenging. Read about the important reminders and tips to prepare for such a hospitalization.
Prepare for Your Care
Access tips on planning for a hospitalization, with information from basic needs to advanced directives. State specific resources available.
Respecting Choices
Proactive Care Planning for COVID-19
The fear and uncertainty we all are feeling related to COVID-19 is real, and it is understandable. During so much uncertainty amid the COVID-19 pandemic, the one thing you can control is who speaks for you if you can’t speak for yourself. The best time to plan for future healthcare choices is before a medical crisis occurs.
Come Prepared
FREE Tools for Hospitalization
PD Patient Safety Kit
The Parkinson’s Foundation launched the Aware in Care campaign in 2011 to help people with Parkinson’s disease (PD) get the best care possible during a hospital stay.
Hospitalizations can be challenging, especially if they are unplanned or emergent. In order to ensure that you or your loved one has everything that they might need for a hospital stay, consider the following:
- Obtain your FREE PD Patient Safety Kit
- Medical ID Bracelet
- Using your smart phone “Medical ID” app to store important health information that emergency personnel can access
- If no smart phone is available, keep the following with you at all times:
- an updated list of your medication and timing
- contact information for your primary physician
- emergency contact information
- allergies
- other pertinent health information
- copies of Advanced Directives
Team Approach
Being hospitalized is difficult for anyone. However, with Parkinson’s Disease, the motor and non-motor symptoms (ie: cognitive changes) of the disease can be especially challenging. Adding in the complexity of COVID-19, often times, family members are not allowed to be in the same room as the patient hospitalized. Therefore, it is important to know your loved one’s care team, and the resources that are available to you at most hospital centers.
Know your Options
What is an Advance Directive
When planning for your future medical care, prepare your advance directives to be sure your loved ones make health choices according to your wishes.
