Email. Would it be useful for me to create a gmail account in my mom's name?

Ask her permission. It won't require her to touch or see a single computer and it would help you to help her. If she still says no, do without.

My mother at 95 yo had a hard time figuring out how to use a cell flip phone! Getting her to use any kind of technology - can't tell you how many tv remotes I had to replace for her because she would get so frustrated with them she would throw them...and break them. No laptop or computer -there was no way she could have ever figured that out.

The health care providers my mother used were on MyChart. I set it up using one of my own personal email addresses, but it was set up under my mother's information. I would sign in and look at her test results and then print them off for her to see, or any other information the doc sent her via MyChart. And I could ask questions as well. I also set up a gmail account with her name that I used for any other providers or whoever might need to send her stuff, and I would access it 1day to check it. If it was super important, I would call her and tell her. If it was, say, an email from someone, I would print it out and then give it to her when I would see her 1x week. Before I set up the 1x week visit, mother would find all kinds of reasons to make appointments with her health care providers...warranted or not.

Many times, seniors of have hearing issues also have hallucinations-auditory and visual - because the brain is trying to 'make sense' of what it can't and is filling in the 'blanks'. My mother had such, and would call 911 at all hours - with tales of someone lurking by the front door ready to break in, or someone living in the attic, or one time even, she had 5 of the CNN anchorpeople sitting in her in her living room talking to her at 1:30am!! Trying to convince her otherwise was impossible. You might want to have a conversation with her doctor about possible medications to help with this. At some point, the police might start charging for the visits to such a frequent caller since it is taking them away from more serious calls.

That's exactly what I did for my Dad. He never has used a computer or cellphone. My dad's a Vet. I went on healthvet and made an account using my phone and email address. I found out he hadn't seen his doctor in 2 years. My dad had 7 polyps. So, no it's not a HIPAA violation on your end. If the doctor spoke to YOU about your Mom's medical condition without the proper paperwork in place giving the doctor permission to do so..HE would've committed a violation, not you.

In order to access any info from her medical care team your name needs to be on her HIPPA form. If you are on it you have the ability to access her medical info no matter what email address you use: however it may be less confusing to establish her own email address for her affairs. I didn't know any better & used my email address to log into my mom's portal & am unable to remove it even though she died 3 years ago. It can also be used for online shopping, etc. for her. When she was in the hospital did you make her doctor or her PCP aware of her delusions & hallucinations/ If not, you should let them know so they can evaluate her on her next visit. The police will placate her in order to answer her call. Sometimes it's best with auditory or visual delusions to be truthful. If they don't believe you & ask someone else she will get the truth.

paraloco: The answer that you're looking for is a 'yes;' it is called Proxy Access to CREATE My Chart. Imho, LOGGING in to My Chart is typically a two-step authentication, but not always, e.g. there typically is a second step (step two) whereby the user sends the link to their cell phone in the form of a text or to their email account, where a six digit numerical code is sent. However, I believe this step CAN be bypassed.

Yes, did this. Best idea. Worked great.

We use my cell and my email for dad. He has a phone but can not hear half of what they say. He prefers to use my email so he is not bothered remembering passwords to my chart etc. We have never had an issue.

I did for each of my parents. I'd started out using my own email for them but some offices don't enable you to have multiple people using one email address, and it was getting confusing as to who the intended recipient was, so I started using mom's email address for her doctors and created one for my dad, and this has simplified things enormously. I have my both of their emails also added to my iPhone so that I can quickly check it twice a day and forward any bills or Dr's appointment confirmations to my own email, and I can make sure that any emails she is getting isn't spam or solicitations that might cause her trouble, and I can remind her to check her email if she gets a personal one that I know she'd enjoy from a friend. My dad isn't online so I don't have to worry about about intercepting anything for him.

Absolutely. I did it for my Mom and managed utility, financial, medical, subscriptions, etc. online. It was super helpful to both of us.

I think it is a good idea to have an email address that is used for your mom's needs in order to keep it separate from your own. I had switched my parent's records so that I'd get emails for them (since I was the one keeping the calendar, paying the bills, and communicating on their behalf with medical providers). I remember getting a generic email from "my physician" that didn't list the doctor's name, or the patient's name and being bamboozled with how to log in to their portal. I didn't know if it was for me, my mom, or my dad. I'm not sure how I ever solved that one, but I remember being stumped and frustrated.

You would not even have to create an email in her name you can email to providers with your email using her name. My Husband did not have an email account and I got emails for him.
As far as setting up contacts with her providers you can do that yourself you set up the account, you set up the password and you can send and get emails. The computer does not know you are not your mom.
It would be immensely helpful if you are listed as a person that can get and give info on her HIPAA forms. This would be particularly helpful when you are in the doctors office in person or if you ever have to take her to the hospital, or she is brought to the hospital.

I did this for 2 different aunts whom I helped with doctors appointments and EVERYTHING else. I cannot imagine NOT having an email account for them. It definitely made things easier.

I have medical, financial, etc. information sent to my email since my mom doesn’t pay attention to her own. She’s 91.
Also, I and my brother both have access to her MyChart. I am her POA, but did not need to provide paperwork to sign into it.

Having access to these things is a godsend! She’s in the hospital right now because of a fall that compressed and cracked her L2 vertebrae. I’m having a hip replaced in 10 days. I’ll be able to keep track of her everyday progress.

If your mother gave you permission to access her health care, then it is not a HIPAA violation. Of course, it is better to have a medical power of attorney to get that information. It also is better to just have that information sent to you. Talk to your mother's doctor(s) and hospital(s) she uses about obtaining this information. Be prepared to send them copies of your medical POA.

Your mother can designate you as someone with whom medical information can be shared. It shouldn't be a problem.

Yes it would be very useful. I did That with my
momma. She’s 75, and was still using social media at the time but it was so easy to communicate with her drs that way.

I have done this exact thing and it has saved me a lot of aggravation and time. I did have Mom sign the HIPPA forms and give her permission. She cannot remember how to use a cell phone so technology is out of the question.
Make everything as easy as you can for yourself.

My husband is a veteran and we use the VA secure message that is available through the VA. He doesn't understand how it works so I'm the one that sends messages to his doctor as needed. Not sure if my doing so is a "violation" of HIPAA, but it's an easier way for him to get what he needs. I am his POA, caregiver, etc. There is no one else. We do what we have to do. I also set up an account at civilian medical facilities that he goes to for treatment, using my e-mail account. Haven't had a problem yet!

Are you her POA for financial and medical affairs? If so, you can set these things up and monitor her accounts. It will make things much easier if at any point you have to take over these things for her. Make sure all of her paperwork is in order while she is still of good mind and can sign legal documents. She needs POAs for medical and financial matters, a living will so that you know her medical directives, and a will if she has assets. Most financial institutions have their own POA forms. You can call her bank, credit card company, etc. to find out what they need. You can ask her credit card company to issue you a second card on her account with your name on it so that you can purchase things for her. You also need to be on file with Medicare and Social Security to speak on her behalf. I did this by calling them with my mother there to agree verbally to having me as her backup. You may need an attorney to help with the POA and will forms. Hopefully she won't resist getting these things in order, because without them it can be much more difficult if she becomes unable to care for herself. With my elderly aunt and now with my mother, I set up online accounts with the bank and credit card company, prescription drug service, etc. so that I could do things for them online. Hopefully, if she is hard of hearing she lets you stay with her at the doctor's office during her examinations, so that you can hear instructions. It is probably too late for her to learn computers and smart phones. Would she accept a life alert type neclace so that she can press a button to call for help if needed? You can be one of her backup people so that they call you when she presses the button.

My wife won't use any electronic device. I am allowed to have access to her medical records. I keep it simple by just using my own email address for things like MyChart. It saves me from having to check her email, etc. all of the time.

My mom was doing her financials okay but had auditory hallucinations. She ended up having a bad one at church and they called 911. Best thing to happen to her. The psych unit stabilized her, I took her home with conditions to find out what is wrong with her. She has psychiatric help and they said it was schizophrenia. That surprised me but the meds worked and she wasn’t in agony of mind with the noises. I set up an email account in her name and I had access to it only. I told her I did this to keep the doctor appointments straight and for reminders so the doctors could have reliable information as to her medication schedule and any symptoms I needed to keep track of. Mom was good about it. Turns out she was not eating well, taking her meds well, sleeping erratically and confused but defiant. I was careful to get the answers and relay them to her because certain details were hard for her to remember. I prayed about the manner to do this and mom blessed me with wanting me to be her health care surrogate (Florida) which means I have HIPPA permission. That wasn’t the way it was at first, but mom didn’t know what she forgot so it was helpful for me to pose it that way. I told her I was her advocate but I needed the tools to help her. That email helped. I was able to get her Walgreens/CVS script history and also got her on mail in scripts which is very helpful. Even with the medications, she has mixed up stories so having information has helped her and me.

Are you already her POA?

If so, I have a suggestion for you, go and rent a mail box like at a large parcel & shipping type of store. UPS has freestanding ones. But if there is a university or college in your town there will be one nearby campus as well. Whichever it is, you rent the box as you need to present an ID to do this and it becomes the new address for everything mom, and you make it a point to go by regularly and deal with her bills and finances.

So she see docs that use My Chart? We have that and if a health system is using it, you flat almost have to do stuff online to schedule and see test results, contact a provider, pay a bill, etc. So that alone is justification to do a Gmail address for her and get an my chart account going for her. Then when she has her next appointment, be sure to get her to do the HIPPA sign off for you. The staff at a practice with lots of elderly know how to get this done with…. ahem…. recalcitrant elders.

out of curiosity, how well can she do her ADLs? If she refused rehab after hip surgery, is she able to walk, transition from bed to stand, on & off toilet, in & out shower? How big of a fall risk is she?
Having hallucinations, placing multiple false reports to the police all those show she is not able to do “executive functioning”. How do you know that she for sure “handles her financials affairs very well”? One good part on getting her address changed is that you will be able to see in detail what she’s doing with credit cards, if her property insurance,
taxes are getting paid, what type of withdrawals she’s doing from her checking account. There could be things amiss that are subterranean.

Get verbal authorization from mom to set up an email in her name to help with what you do for her. Keep it simple and go for the yes.

Is your mother receiving meds to help calm the hallucinations and delusions? This should be a priority. She’s wasting the resources of law enforcement with the multiple calls, and that needs to stop. I’d consider whether it’s honestly a good idea for her to continue to live alone. She can add you to her list of people to release her medical info to any any time. My dad did this for the both of us. With her consent there’s no HIPPA violation. Are you concerned that she won’t allow you access?