It is never a good idea to leave your ailing loved one alone in the hospital. This may cause you to wonder, “Why is it so? Isn’t a hospital a safe haven for sick people?”.
Hospitals may be one of the safest places for people who are ill. However, this does not mean that you can just leave them alone there. A + Home Care Services, Inc, a provider of home care services in Riverside, California, tells you why.
- FALL ACCIDENTS CAN HAPPEN IN HOSPITALS TOO.
Fall accidents do not just happen at home. It can also happen inside a hospital. This especially holds true if your loved one has mobility issues. Getting in and out bed may be strenuous for them to do. They may want to go to the bathroom or get out to get some air.
- YOUR LOVED ONE MAY NEED A HELPING HAND WITH SOME TASKS.
As mentioned earlier, getting in and out of the bed may be a difficult task to do on their own. Your loved one needs someone who can help them with it. They may also need you to do some light errands for them.
- THERE MAY BE INSTANCES WHEN YOUR PRESENCE IS REQUIRED.
What are some of these instances?
- (a) The doctor wants to explain to you the health status of your loved one.
- (b) Your permission is needed to further proceed with medical tests and other medical procedures.
- (c) You may be asked by their doctor to buy some medications.
- YOU CANNOT JUST ASSUME THAT HOSPITAL STAFFS KNOW WHAT THEY ARE DOING.
No matter how great a person is at what they do, they can still commit mistakes. The same is also true for hospital staffs. Also, you have to understand the things they are doing to your loved one. Thus, it is normal for you to ask questions, such as:
- “What medication is that you’re giving?”
- “Why are you giving that? What is it for?”
- “What is the test for?”
- “When can we expect the results of the test?”
- FEELINGS OF ISOLATION AND LONELINESS CAN LEAD TO DEPRESSION.
Hospital stays can give your loved one a gloomy atmosphere. It can make them feel isolated and lonely, which can eventually drive them to depression. They need some friendly company. Here are some fun activities you and your loved one can do during their hospital stay:
- Play chess, scrabble, and other board games.
- Read to them a good novel
- Talk about current events
- SOME OF YOUR LOVED ONE’S NEEDS MAY NOT BE SATISFIED BY HOSPITAL STAFFS.
For instance, your loved one wants someone who can hold their hand during medical tests or stay at their bedside at night. Hospital staff cannot do this for their patients individually which is why it’s important to have a loved one present during their confinement.
If your loved one is hospitalized, do not ever leave their side as much as possible. If you cannot really be there for them due to personal reasons, you can just ask a hospital sitter to take over for you. Many home care agencies, like A + Home Care Services, Inc, offer sitter services. More importantly, a home care provider can also help when your loved one comes home from the hospital.
Have you ever been hospitalized yourself? Do you think to have a hospital sitter would have made a difference? Share your thoughts in the comments.
