With the Future in Mind

writing notes
When it comes to physical wellness as we age, there are two important items that I believe everyone should be mindful of.

First, everyone should have an advance care plan (in Alberta this is also referred to as a Green Sleeve) and keep it in an easily accessible place where anyone can access it. Secondly, everyone should create a document about their personal health. It should include information about family history, physician contacts, emergency contacts, medical history, allergies — really anything that someone might need to know about your medical needs in an emergency. I keep mine in a binder and make sure it is close by whenever I leave the house for more than a walk. If I’m shopping, it is in the vehicle and whoever is with me knows where to look for it.

Green Sleeve

A Green Sleeve is a small holding case that contains important documents related to advance care planning. In an emergency, medical professionals know to ask for it and can use it to understand your health-care wishes.

Most hospitals or other health-care providers can give you one, but know that it should contain up-to-date information. It’s not a document that you can forget about, or it stops being useful.

Generally, the Green Sleeve holds a copy of your personal directive, outlining health-care decisions should you be unable to communicate them yourself. It should also contain the name of someone you trust to make any unforeseen decisions on your behalf.

You should store your Green Sleeve at home on or near the fridge, which is where first responders are trained to look for it in an emergency. You can also give copies to trusted individuals who may need to access it.

More information can be found at advancecareplanning.ca.

Personal Health Document

Green Sleeves don’t cover everything. If you haven’t lived your whole life in Alberta, many of your medical records may be missing. To fill in the gaps, I use a Personal Health Document. You can buy purpose-built books for this, but a binder with printed sheets works just as well. As long as you, and other people, can understand the information within, it’s doing its job.

You can bring this document with you to appointments to help you remember all your medical details or just have it on hand in case of an emergency. The information it will contain will be personal to each person, but here are some ideas to help you get started.

What to Include in Your Personal Health Document

health record notebook
Personal Information

Your name, address, health care and insurance policies, any medical alerts, allergies, medical conditions, implants, blood type, emergency contacts and phone numbers, and personal health care team.

Medical History

Include past hospital stays, illnesses, accidents, and tests.

Medical Family Tree

Record family medical history for your health background.

Records
  • Immunizations and vaccinations
  • Annual/regular check ups
  • Wellness records (cholesterol levels, blood pressure, etc.), personal conditions
Planning Visits
  • An on-going record of consultations with health professionals
  • Specialist visits
  • Surgical/medical procedures and follow ups
Medications
  • AHS has them on your personal page (but your own list may reflect the current amount and duration faster than AHS's listing.)
  • Medications that you can’t take
A Copy of Your Green Sleeve

(or Advance Care Plan if you live outside of Alberta)


Joyce Loucks

Joyce Loucks
Chair, Wellness Committee, ARTA