Caring for A Hospitalized Loved One

I don’t think anybody likes staying in the hospital. Everyone I know would rather just get things done and get back home to their own bed. The problem isn’t always that they hate the hospital food or that the bed is uncomfortable, but simply that a hospital is typically way out of a person’s comfort zone all together. There’s nurses poking around, machines beeping, tubes hooked up to their body, sterile smells, and all sorts of stuff that just makes it unpleasant. If you have a loved one who is in the hospital, there are some things that I would recommend for making their stay a little more comfortable. Be Considerate Of Privacy All too often when we have a loved one in the hospital, we want to be there for them, no matter what is going on. Did you ever stop to consider that maybe they don’t want you there? Don’t be afraid to call before you visit. Ask them if it is a good time for you to come, or if they would rather you come at another time. This gives them a chance to dress more decently and use the restroom before you come. While you are there, the nurses might come in to run a test or check levels. Don’t just stand there watching, but get out of the room and allow them their privacy. Nobody likes an audience when a nurse is lifting up their clothes, drawing their blood, or changing a catheter. When you’ve had a good visit, be considerate enough to leave. If you know they want you to stay or if they ask you to stay, then that is an indication that they are enjoying the company. If not, be strong enough to make the visit short and then allow them some time to rest. Make It Home Some hospital stays are really too long for one person to handle. Rather than just using things the hospital provides, bring some stuff for home. Perhaps they have some favorite dishes that they like to eat on. When the nurse brings their meals, switch it out to their dishes. They may have a blanket or pillows that they can have on their hospital bed. Take the hospital pictures off the wall and hang their own pictures up. Of course, you would probably have to get permission from the hospital and the doctor for some of these things, but making it feel like home will help your loved one to be more comfortable during their stay. Bring Good Gifts If I were in the hospital for an extended period of time, I think I would grow tired of receiving flowers from everyone that visited. How about you? Realize that your loved one probably feels the same way. While flowers are a nice gesture and a classic hospital gift, try thinking outside the box when you make a visit. Perhaps your loved one really enjoys Sudoku and would love a new book. A good movie might be the perfect gift. Maybe a new stuffed animal or a picture for the wall would do the trick. Think about your loved one and what they really enjoy, ditch the flowers, and get a gift with meaning. Be Encouraging Generally speaking, people stay in the hospital for situations that are not all too pleasant. Of course, there are times when it is a good thing, such as someone having a baby, but most occasions are scary for the patient. No matter what you are going through in your personal life, or how you feel about your loved one’s stay in the hospital, be encouraging. Don’t head in there to tell them all your woes or to cry at their bedside over their condition. They do enough of that on their own, and they have enough to worry about. Encourage and uplift your loved one so that they can get through this hard time with as much hope as possible. Help At The Home Front Just because someone is in the hospital, it doesn’t mean that their life has ended completely. Their home life is still moving. They have bills to pay, a yard to take care of, and perhaps even family members to take care of. Of course, they can’t do that if they are in the hospital, so be available to help out with some of those things for them. This gives them room to relax and know that everything at home is taken care of. As you can see, we can do a lot to allow our loved ones a comfortable stay in the hospital. It will never be the same as being at home, but there are definitely ways to make it feel a little more like home.