🔑 Highlights:

• Crisis planning provides peace of mind during eldercare emergencies

• Emergency documents and contacts should be easily accessible at all times

• The tendercare app helps caregivers prepare, coordinate, and act fast

When caring for aging parents or loved ones with long-term illnesses, emergencies can happen at any moment, from falls, medication mix-ups, and power outages, to sudden hospitalizations. Having a plan in place isn’t just smart... it’s essential. Crisis planning helps families and caregivers respond quickly, minimize stress, and make decisions confidently when time is short and emotions are high.

Why Emergency Planning Matters

In eldercare, even well-managed conditions like diabetes, Parkinson’s, or dementia can turn critical fast. Without a clear plan, caregivers are left scrambling and searching for medication lists, insurance cards, or advance directives while a loved one waits in distress.

With proactive emergency planning, families are prepared. Everyone knows:

• Who to call,

• Where important documents are stored,

• And what the person’s medical wishes are.

This preparation ensures your loved one receives timely, respectful, and appropriate care.

Steps to Build a Crisis Plan

1. Create a One-Page Emergency Profile

Include diagnoses, medications, allergies, primary doctor, insurance info, and emergency contacts. The tendercare app lets you store and update this info in real time so it’s always on hand. Once the info is uploaded, you can also export this to have an emergency PDF, or scannable magnet on your fridge or business card in your wallet for on-the-go help.

2. Assign Roles and Responsibilities

Decide who’s in charge of making medical decisions, who can leave work to go to the ER, and who handles communication with extended family.

3. Store Critical Documents Digitally

Advance directives, power of attorney, insurance cards, DNR orders—keep these scanned and ready in a secure location. The tendercare Vault gives caregivers a central place to access what they need, fast.

4. Plan for Power Outages or Natural Disasters

If your loved one depends on oxygen, refrigerated medication, or assistive tech, make a backup plan. Include emergency contacts for power companies and local shelters.

5. Practice the Plan

Walk through the plan with your caregiving team. Make sure everyone knows what to do and where to find what they need.

⚠️ Watch Outs

• Outdated contact info can delay care. Check your contact hub every few months to ensure it's up to date

• Relying on memory in high-stress situations rarely works. Load everything into the Vault ASAP

• Not sharing the plan with others can leave key caregivers out of the loop. Use the tendercare app to share access safely and easily with our bank-level security protocols

📝 Summary

Emergency planning is one of the most important steps in caring for aging parents or loved ones with long-term illnesses. It prevents chaos, reduces anxiety, and ensures your loved one’s care is never compromised - even in moments of crisis.

The tendercare app was built by caregivers, for caregivers. We have been there and lived it. We built this to have a one-stop-shop to store emergency info, assign roles, and stay connected in urgent situations. When it comes to eldercare, being ready means being loving. Take time now to build a plan that supports your loved one when it matters most.