What information should families keep in an emergency care folder?
One page, kept current, that anyone can hand to a paramedic or a nurse.
Keep it to a single page if you can. A short summary that is accurate today is far more valuable than a thick binder that is two years old.
What to include
- Full name, preferred name and date of birth
- Current medicines with strengths and instructions, plus the date last reviewed
- Allergies and known reactions
- Ongoing conditions and any implanted devices
- Primary clinician and pharmacy, with phone numbers
- Two emergency contacts and their relationship
- Insurance details and preferred hospital, if there is one
- Whether an advance directive exists and where it is kept
- Practical support needs: hearing, vision, mobility, language, memory
Where to keep it
Keep a printed copy somewhere obvious — the fridge door is a long-standing convention that emergency crews look for — plus a copy in the go-bag and one with a family member who lives elsewhere. A digital version you can share instantly is a useful complement, not a replacement.
Keep it current, and keep it private
Review after every hospital stay or medication change, and note the review date on the page itself. Share it deliberately: this document is sensitive, so any digital link you share should expire and be revocable rather than living forever in a group chat.
EldersCare AI builds this page from records the family has confirmed, and shares it through links that expire and can be revoked at any time.
This article is general educational information for families. It does not provide a diagnosis and does not replace advice from a qualified clinician.
