Extended Hospital Stay Tips
Staying overnight in the hospital with your loved one can be an anxious and exhausting experience for you both. If your loved one’s condition requires longer than an overnight stay here are some tips that I have found to be helpful if you decide to stay with your loved for the duration of their stay:
Check the main entrance door hours. After certain times at some facilities the doors are locked and you will have to go through the ER or another door to get back inside.
Bring some Clorox wipes or other cleaning products to wipe down commodes, sinks, door handles or showers or ask housekeeping if they can leave some wipes and/or other supplies. Housekeeping may not come on the regular as they should.
Bring warm comfortable clothes. Hospital are normally cold. Also bring some house slippers and socks. Head scarves or hats are optional I only suggest it because most pullout bed and or rolling cots are set up by windows. In winter months having a hat on will bring much needed warmth
Bring snacks. Vending machines are expensive
Bring needed medications and sometimes to read
Be kind to the staff as most are working more shifts due to being short staffed, this is an issue in all hospitals across the country. With that being said if you are being disrespected or feel you or your loved one is not getting the best care keep a cool head ask to speak to the Charge nurse or someone over them in order to find a solution.
Ask questions, watch, learn, and take notes. You set tone of how your loved ones healthcare experience goes whether you speak up or not. Do not be afraid to speak up and advocate by holding a medical professional accountable if the level of care provided is not to your standards, Humanity is your RIGHT!
If you are staying over night or for an extended time with another family member besides your loved one it would be better to split meals to save money and reduce waste. If you are staying alone with your loved one reaching out to friends and family members to bring food is other option as well. Hospital rooms don’t have refrigerators nor microwaves and are only accessible to patients through staff .
If your loved ones need Durable Medical Equipment (DME) have the hospital social worker order it prior to leaving the hospital. Once you leave the hospital your primary care doctor will have to write a script for the equipment and supplies. You may have to wait until your hospital follow up visit to obtain a script or an order as most DME suppliers require follow up visit notes from your primary care doctor. If your loved can’t be seen for a week or longer that will delay when you will receive the equipment. An option if possible is to ask the chosen DME supplier if you could rent the equipment until the script is written and approved by your insurance carrier. Once approved the insurance carrier will then be billed for future payments.
Have the hospital Social Worker check with the insurance carrier to see what is covered and what amount your loved one maybe responsible for if anything. Check the link below to see what equipment is covered by Medicare, if your loved doesn’t have Medicare this link can give you an idea of what maybe covered by their insurance carrier. If a needed item is NOT COVERED you can check websites like Amazon, eBay, Shopgoodwill.com or check your local Goodwill for new or gently used equipment such as wheelchairs, walkers and canes. https://www.medicare.gov/coverage/durable-medical-equipment-dme-coverage
Double check prior to leaving the hospital if medication prescribed have been called in to the pharmacy or you have a written script in hand.
