Do You Know What To Do If Someone You Loved One Is In the
Hospital?
If someone you know and love is in the hospital there are a few
things you need to know especially if you are the Heath Care
Agent or the surrogate that will be acting and making decisions
for the patient.
Keep a notebook and a pen available with you at all times. You
will have many things going through your mind that you may need
to keep track of and the notebook will be helpful. Much of this
information will be exchanged in the days to come with
physicians, other family members and friends, and the discharge
planner. Family or friends may be asking you questions and
offering to do things for you. You do not have to do all of the
writing, assign whoever is with you to do some of the writing
for you.
Be sure to use the opportunities that family and friends will be
offering you now. Select someone you trust who is supportive to
be your helper. Let that individual know what it is that you
need for them to do. Several others will be offering to help as
well, but for the next few days you need a support person. There
will be those that offer to do specific things for you, allow
them to do those things as long as you trust them. Then, there
will be other individuals that will ask if there is anything
that they can do for you that is non-specific, if know what
these individuals can do for you, go ahead and ask them to do
it. Make the most out of this opportunity to allow others to
give to you when they offer. (They may not later).
Find out who the discharge planner is and schedule a meeting as
soon as possible. Discharge planning is a process and it begins
at admission. The discharge planner will help you arrange the
care needed for your loved one or friend when it is time for
them to go home. They must notify you of their plans before the
discharge occurs. The discharge planner can also be your liaison
to get needed information from physician and the different
specialists who are following your loved one or friend.
Ask the nurse when the physician will be doing his rounds. Most
physicians do daily rounds or have rounds assigned. Be there
during rounds. Make the most of these daily opportunities. This
will be the time that you can ask the physician questions and
set up a meeting to talk about your loved ones condition,
progress, diagnostics, treatments, medication and what may
happen in the future.
Contact your insurance company to find out what is covered or
not covered in your policy. Get the name of a contact person and
their assistant's name for future questions that you will have
for them about rehabilitation, home care, nursing home care,
etc. If, you have Medicare, the discharge planner or admissions
office will be able to help with Medicare coverage while your
patient is in the hospital.
You are the advocate now. Do not be afraid to ask questions.
Every question you ask and receive answers to will help you make
better decisions about the care your loved one will need. No
matter what it is that you do not know or understand about the
care that your loved one is receiving, ask. Some professionals
forget to break down their knowledge in to terms that are easy
to understand. Ask them to simplify or use layman's terms.
Take care of yourself. Make sure that you are drinking adequate
fluids including water. Be sure to have your regular meals and
don't rely on snacks to keep you going. You need rest. Try to
take small naps when your loved one is napping even if it is at
bedside. Use a Do Not Disturb sign if you need to. Remind others
when you need privacy. You may require emotional support. The
hospital has a Chaplin and social workers available that can
offer you support and counseling.
Take some time to think about how you may or may not be able to
care for your loved one. Think about the treatments your loved
one is receiving and if the treatment is one that you can learn
to do. How will you help your loved one with tasks of activities
of daily living? Will you be able to help them walk, transfer,
toilet, dress, bath, and eat if that is the help they need? You
may not be able to some of these tasks, you may require help,
training or maybe a caregiver. You may have to work. Your loved
one may require more treatment or rehabilitation to be able to
come home. In any case, you should carefully evaluate your
circumstances and meet with the discharge planner and let
him/her know what help you may need and find out what
alternatives are available.
Following are resources links to additional information:
Your Medicare Coverage http://www.medicare.gov/Coverage/Home.asp
National Alliance for Caregiving
http://www.caregiving.org/Family%20Discharge%20Planning.pdf