CRISIS RESPONSE (LEVEL ONE)

When a crisis occurs you can go through a series of physical, mental, emotional and spiritual changes. Understanding the wide variety of possible responses is important. Then you can manage the crisis effectively.

Doing these exercises will enable you to:

This technique was designed to assist someone with a personal medical crisis. It can be used for any other personal crisis, including one due to a friend or loved one in crisis. It can even be used to view a political or environmental problem from a personal, national or international point of view.

The kinds of situations that can create an atmosphere of crisis are numerous. What may be a crisis for you might not be for someone else. Also, the situation that creates a crisis for another might seem less important to you. Some examples of precipitating events:

As a reaction to your crisis you can undergo a series of mental and emotional changes that might include feelings of:

It is possible for someone to spontaneously go through all these states; it's not likely. It's common that these and other states would be entered, left and reentered several times. Sometimes the transitions can be very quick. Go through the entire list and ask yourself to what extent you feel shock, confusion, denial, etc. After you have completed the list you're ready for the next step Level Two.

If your stress level is too uncomfortable consult the information on relaxation techniques. Tranquilizers can also be used for short term coping. If you're having trouble sleeping read about insomnia. Occasional use of sleeping pills may be helpful.

A suggested medical crisis check list

I. Select Medical Team and Medical Treatment Goals and Path Establish partnership with doctors Make list of your medical needs and questions and discuss with doctor Get facts for your particular illness Discuss what to expect with progression of illness with medical team Make list of all medications you are taking Discuss with doctors (Work Sheet No. 1) Dosage levels Instructions for taking Make personal assessment of effectiveness for purpose taken List any side effects you need addressed Discuss available treatments with medical team Determine your goals and discuss your options How to go for a cure How to go for maximum life span How to go for maximum quality of life Other Determine the best action or compromise for you Make medical/home support key contacts list (Work Sheet No. 2) Emergency Doctors Caregivers Nursing services Pharmacies Medical supplies Hospitals Ambulance Hospice Other II. Review/Make Key Legal Decisions and Get Legal Documents Reviewed/Prepared by Attorney Designate proxy medical decision maker - your person of choice Durable power of attorney (Harvard Medical Directive or Other) Document/communicate how you want to treated medically Living Will/medical directive (Harvard Medical Directive or Other) Designate/provide for handling of finances, a proxy financial representative, your person of choice Living Trust Durable Power of Attorney Other Important Legal Actions to Consider Select how you want to distribute major assets in event of your death Will/codicil/living trust/trust Designate guardian for minors Establish trust for minors, other if desired Select how you want to distribute minor assets and possessions to family and others to avoid squabbles and hurt feelings Will/codicil Memorandum to your executor of estate (Work Sheet No. 5) III. Make List For Key Legal, Business and Financial Contacts (Work Sheet No. 3) Attorney Accountant Stockbroker Investment Adviser Bank Officers Guardians Life insurance Medical insurance Home/rental insurance Auto insurance Banks Social Security Work Other IV. Consolidate Important Documents in One Place (Work Sheet No. 4) Will Codicil to will Memorandum to executor of your estate Letter of instructions Living will Durable power of attorney Birth certificates Passports Insurance policies Stocks Bonds Titles Deeds Mortgages Loan record Tax records and tax documents Other important and other legal papers V. Establish Sense of Financial and Medical Security for Self and Family (Work Sheet No. 6) Determine financial/medical support system available. Understand personal assets, resources and benefits available to you. Financial Income - all sources Earned Work sick leave Retirement Investment/interest Social Security Disability insurance Other Expenses - All Sources Assets - all sources Bank accounts Safe deposit box Stocks Bonds Property Business Other Liabilities Mortgages Loans Credit cards/accounts Other Medical Details of medical insurance plan Medicare Medicaid Other VI. Choose Caregivers and Proxies [note: one person can fill all these rolls] (Check List No. 2) Proxy medical decision maker proxy financial representative Guardian for minors Close family member Other relative Friend Other legal choices VII. Select Techniques/Methods to Maximize Quality of Time Left What is important to you (within abilities/constraints of your illness and resources). Items that enhance quality of life and provide hope. Happy, joyful objectives (Work Sheet No. 7) Special, memorable objectives (Work Sheet No. 8) Productive objectives and accomplishments (Work Sheet No. 9) VIII. Make a List of Contacts for Social/Emotional Support (Work Sheet No. 10) Close family member Other relatives Friends Work associates Church associates Other IX. Select Setting and Support System for Recovery or in Event of Death Hospital Nursing home Hospice Your home - supported Doctor/Nursing Hospice X. Make a List of Contacts to Notified in Event of Death Close family members Other relatives Friends Work associates Other legal/business/and financial key contacts Insurance companies Social security Funeral home Cemetery Other XI. Make Funeral/Memorial Service Decisions in Event of Death Select funeral home Method of body disposal-burial/cremation Select grave site/location/method to handle remains Document/communicate and special wishes for services (special readings, music, etc.)


HOMEPAGE