Managing a Hospital Stay
No one really enjoys a stay in the hospital. In recent years, many hospitals have worked hard to make their patients feel more comfortable, but even the best of them can seem a bit impersonal. At the same time, a hospital stay can be confusing. Patients are asked to absorb a great deal of unfamiliar information and make important decisions, no matter how ill or anxious they might feel.
As a caregiver, you can play an important role in the success of the stay by making your loved one as comfortable as possible and by serving as their representative to doctors and hospital staff. By playing a more active and decisive role, you can make all the difference between an experience that is productive and one that is frustrating and inconclusive.
Here are a few tips:
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Come prepared with information. Bring a list of the medications your loved one takes on a regular basis. Make sure you have up-to-date insurance information and whatever legal documents your loved one has signed, such as a living will or medical power of attorney. It might be worthwhile to compile a set of these documents now, so that you’ll have them ready if your loved one is ever hospitalized.
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Bring a selection of personal items. As a caregiver, you can do a lot to make your loved one’s stay more pleasant. Bring comfortable pajamas or a nightgown, a robe and slippers, toothbrush, toothpaste, combs, brushes, shaving equipment, and cosmetics. The morning paper or a good book can help pass the time.
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Write it all down. Come equipped with a notebook and a few good pens. Jot down questions that you would like to ask. Take notes when talking to doctors. Keep a diary of your loved one’s condition, including the results of diagnostic tests. Update your to-do list. Write down important phone numbers. There’s simply too much going on during a hospital stay to rely on your memory.
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Learn the routines of the hospital. Doctors are busier than ever these days, so if you want to talk to them, you need to be on the ward when they make their rounds. If you must leave the ward for a meal or to run an errand, make sure the nurse knows your cell phone number.
Most importantly, keep in mind that caring for a loved one during a hospital stay is not a do-it-yourself project. Enlist family and friends and set up a schedule so that everyone stays a few hours. Your loved one will appreciate the variety of company, and you’ll appreciate having the time to take care of your business and to devote a few quiet moments to yourself.