Google Health: Only a partial solution.

Google Health recently encouraged people to upload and store important health documents online. However, there are problems with this partial solution.

First, each state has different requirements regarding such documents like advanced directives and while general advanced directives will do in a pinch, state specific documents are the best way to secure that your wishes will be carried out. Second, advanced directives are not the only documents you need online: A full medical history, legal documents (such as Last Will & Testament), financial forms, and important contacts should also be online and be easy to access by more than one family member in case of a crisis. And finally, none of this does you any good unless your doctor has quick access to these documents.

CaringSource.com has the complete solution for carehelpers and their aging loved ones. We suggest using LegalZoom or your local elder law attorney to prepare your advanced directive documents that follow your state laws. Once you have the right documents, you can store them online along with your medical information using the CaringSource online medical document management system called Magnu.... Magnus Health Portal provides emergency cards for people to carry with them. The emergency cards provide a link so that patient information can be accessed by any doctor's office, emergency service or professional the client chooses. Additionally, Magnus also offers a concierge service so that the burden of collecting all of the medical documents is not left up to the families who are already stressed and this information is continually updated.

So while Google Health is on the right track, it is only a partial solution. Visit us at CaringSource.com for a full solution and join our online support network of carehelpers.