Having had to rush home owing to a family health emergency recently, putting out this thread for everyone like me who erroneously think their ageing parents are completely self-reliant and can manage things on their own.

Well, that is not the case!

1. Customise your house according to parents' needs. Things as basic as grab bars for bathrooms and friction bars on staircases come in very handy.

2. Keep numbers of ambulances handy, and if you live in a small town, keep a list of hospitals with oxygen and ventilator support too. It saves a lot of time in case of an emergency.

3. If you live away from home, keep a record of medical documents, insurance policies, and contact details of their doctors with you. You might have to refer to medical documents and call doctors n number of times.

4. Always keep a spare key to your house. Always.

And keep contact details of a few neighbours too.

5. Knowing passwords: Keep their passwords esp. of cellphones and e-mail accounts with you. I have found this to be extremely useful in last two weeks.

6. Keep essentials easily accessible esp all the first aid. Make sure they have nebulizer, oximeter, blood pressure monitor, glucometer etc. at home.

7. Make sure they visit their doctors and get their tests done regularly.

And lastly, if you live away from home, call them daily & keep in touch with relatives/neighbours/parents' friends.