June 04, 2010 01:41am EST 

The Baby Boomers are growing elderly; and with medical research continually innovating, the average age of Americans continues to increase.
Those who are taking care of an elderly parent or loved one can benefit greatly from planning ahead for a possible visit to a hospital emergency. When you are forced to rush to a hospital emergency room, the experience can be difficult and stressful. Even so, you will be expected to answer a lot of important questions and provide pertinent health information on the spot.
The importance of being prepared when visiting a hospital emergency is not to be understated. The emergency room is different from other areas of the hospital for a few reasons. First, time is a much bigger factor in the emergency room, as all the patients visiting the room are there for a medical emergency. Second, the physicians and nurses present in the emergency room are often trained as emergency professionals, and will likely request quick and accurate information. Last, the emergency room can cost thousands of dollars more than a normal hospital inpatient visit, making each visit that much more important.
Here are 5 tips for a person bringing and elderly patient to a hospital emergency room:
1. Bring Reading/Entertainment Materials: Bring a book or newspaper to read while you are waiting for results or waiting to see a physician. Where the Red Fern Grows may not reduce your stress level, but a Calvin and Hobbes book may do the trick.
2. Anticipate Admission: Should the patient or parent be admitted to the hospital, you will need to bring a change of clothes and personal care items. You can keep these in the car until after you see the physician, but it may save vital time should they be needed.
3. Fill out a Medical History Form: Search the Internet for a form that you and your loved one’s physician can help you complete. Remember, being prepared is the key! Remember to list the medications, allergies, and past and present medical conditions of your loved one. Bring the completed form to the hospital emergency room to give to the emergency physician.
4. Be the Advocate: Being the health advocate for your loved one can make your emergency room visit much more bearable. You know the patient better than the emergency physician, so it is your job to help the physician better understand his or her patient. Take down notes and make sure that your loved one is receiving the proper care and medication. Do not let the patient downplay their symptoms, as it may affect diagnosis and treatment.
5. Be Patient: A hospital emergency room can be one of the busiest and most frantic places in world. The more complaints, the longer it takes to work up the problems. Do not create more problems for your loved one or the other patients in the emergency room waiting room.