Hospital Preparedness
Hospitals are scary places and your best defense to help offset the fear is to bring some items from home that help the senior feel more comfortable. Also, by having this bag packed in advance, you are always prepared. Keep the bag by the front door or in the senior’s closet if there is enough room. Make sure that everyone knows to bring the bag in case there is an emergency trip to the hospital. If there is a scheduled hospital visit, you will still want to bring these items, however, you will have more time to prepare.
When paramedics arrive during an emergency, chaos ensues and it’s easy to forget these items. Having them packed in advance will give everyone, especially the senior, a feeling of comfort.
Keep in Bag at all Times
- Pajamas (a few pairs) – If the senior is not hooked up to a lot of monitors, often the nurses will allow him/her to wear pajamas from home. If there are monitors or the senior is ICU, then the hospital gown is all that will be allowed.
- Robe/slippers with rubber soles – make sure they have backs.
- Underwear
- Socks
- Cozy soft blanket for chilly hospital rooms. Blankets from home are psychologically comforting. Hospital blankets are scratchy and not very warm.
- Toothbrush and toothpaste
- Deodorant
- Facecloths – They do not have these in hospitals and if they do they are very scratchy.
- Face and body lotion
- Comb/Brush
- Extra pair of eyeglasses
- Copy of Power of Attorney, Medical Directive, Medicare Card and supplemental medical insurance forms
Add to Bag When Leaving
- Bring your Empowered Caregiver Manual with you. Do not pack this.
- Leave medications at home, as you can’t use them in the hospital.
- Cell phone and charger
- Wallet/purse – Do not bring cash or credit cards.
- Address book
- Dentures or hearing aids
- Prescription glasses
*If the senior is going to be in the hospital for a longer stay, it’s nice to bring pillows from home and perhaps an additional quilt or blanket that is special. Family photos make the stay more pleasant. So often seniors are in and out of hospitals and the more comfortable you can make the stay, the less stress the senior will experience. If the senior is not on a special diet, you can bring food in as well. The more comfortable someone feels in a hospital environment, the faster the healing process.
