If your aging parents were to have a medical emergency, could you provide the vital information doctors would need to care for them? Do you know the names of your aging parents' doctors? Is your mom taking any medications? Has your dad ever had any surgery?

If you're like most people, you probably don't know the answers to some of these questions about your aging parents. It only takes a few minutes to collect and write down this vital information. And it can save precious time in an emergency.

"Sometimes a parent isn't able to give medical information when an emergency arises, so emergency medical personnel must rely on the adult children or a spouse for that information," says Paul Takahashi, M.D., a specialist in geriatrics at Mayo Clinic, Rochester, Minn. "These are things you should know. Just as you fill out those emergency cards for your kids in school, you should have similar information available about your parents."

Below — in order of importance — is a list of 10 things you need to know about your aging parents' health.

1. Names of doctors. If you don't know anything else, this is probably the most important piece of information. Why? Chances are good that your aging parents' doctors can provide much of the rest of the information needed as well as more details about your parents' specific health histories.
2. Birth date. Often medical records and insurance information are cataloged according to birth date. This can improve communication in an emergency or a crisis.
3. List of allergies. This is especially important if one of your aging parents is allergic to medication — penicillin, for example.
4. Advance directives. An advance directive is a legal document that outlines a person's decisions about his or her health care, such as whether or not resuscitation efforts should be made and the use of life-support machines.
5. Major medical problems. This includes such diseases as diabetes or heart disease.
6. List of medications. It's especially important that a doctor know if your parent uses blood thinners.
7. Religious beliefs. This is particularly important in case blood transfusions are needed.
8. Insurance information. Know the name of your parents' health insurance provider and their policy numbers.
9. Prior surgery. List past medical procedures, such as cardiac bypass surgery.
10. Lifestyle information. Do your parents drink alcohol or use tobacco?

To help you care for your aging parents, fill out this downloadable emergency medical information form and keep it with you in your wallet or purse.

Emergency medical form for your parents (PDF file requiring Adobe Reader)