Navigating the Hospitalization of a Loved One

As a caregiver, one of the most stressful things you may experience is the hospitalization of your loved one – especially if the hospitalization is in an intensive care unit. Here are some tips to consider when navigating this difficult situation:

• Be prepared. Keep a list of your loved one’s medications and allergies handy at all times. Include the name of the medication, the dosage, the number of doses taken daily and the times at which they are taken. Make multiple copies on a copy machine or your computer. That way you can give a copy to the caregivers at the hospital to save time from writing everything down again, and you don’t risk losing your only copy.
• Set up a climate of trust with nurses and doctors. You are the expert on the intricacies of care of your loved one, but the doctors and nurses have experience caring for a wide range of people. Even in an intensive care unit, nurses usually have two patients to care for and must set priorities to meet the complex needs of both. If you want to perform some of your loved one’s care yourself, negotiate this with the nurses. They can advise you if it will be possible for you to do so, given the different equipment from the home environment.
• Try to be patient. The first few hours of being admitted to the hospital or transferred to a new unit are stressful for everyone. The nurses and doctors need time to assess your loved one, get to know them. Frequently, a number of activities must be performed in rapid succession. They can certainly benefit from information you can provide, but try to do it when they are ready.
• Try to use this time as a respite from your caregiving duties. Most caregivers don’t have the resources or opportunity to take good care of themselves. Don’t feel guilty about leaving the hospital. Your loved one is in good hands. Unless your loved one’s condition is extremely critical, you are never required to stay at the hospital 24 hours a day or sleep there. Do something for yourself to relieve your own stress. Some intensive care units provide a pager to families so they can feel free to leave the hospital but still know they can be reached if a problem arises. Give the nurses your cell phone number. Your loved one is going to need you a lot more when he or she is discharged from the hospital, and you will both be better off if you are rested.
• Let the hospital know how well it has met your needs. Complete any satisfaction survey offered. Write a short letter or email. Most hospitals appreciate your opinions. Your input can help hospitals make changes to serve your community better.

While most seniors face major adjustments when transitioning to an elder-care community, Jewish seniors face additional challenges. Not only do they lose their homes, and many of their friends, but they also lose ties to their cultural heritage. This is where Jewish Pavilion Senior Services steps in. The Pavilion serves as a resource that provides room visits, festive holiday celebrations, and more to 450 Jewish residents in fifty facilities for seniors.  The Jewish Pavilion promotes inclusion, and thousands of seniors of all faiths are welcomed into our programs. Visit www.JewishPavilion.org for more information.

The Orlando Senior Help Desk (407-678-9363) helps thousands of callers navigate their way through the daunting senior maze, alleviating caregiver stress while giving advice on all types of elder issues. Visit www.OrlandoSeniorHelpDesk.org to learn more.