How can you, the caregiver, help your loved one while

in the hospital and when they come home?



What to bring to the hospital: (and make sure is documented as having been brought to hospital)

1. Medication bottles (in addition to list of medications).

2. Anything they use to enhance function: hearing aides, dentures, glasses.  

3. Medical devices such as CPAP, cane, walker.

4. Copy of POLST: Physician Orders for Life-Sustaining Treatment (POLST)

5. Copy of durable power of attorney for healthcare, California: names somebody to make medical decisions any time you are incapable to do it on your own, even if you are expected to make a full recuperation. CA Medical Power of Attorney Form

6. For you: pad of paper and pen; your cell phone and charger; water and snacks

Special needs if patient has cognitive impairment or dementia:

1. Let hospital staff (nurses, doctors, aides, therapists) know that there are memory issues and confusion — especially if it’s not yet been diagnosed and therefore isn’t on their medical problem list.
2. Help hospital staff learn about your loved one — what makes them happy, or upset, how to help them when they are upset.
3. Inform hospital staff about details of your loved ones living situation: who they live with, where they live.
4. Bring comfort items for your loved one: photographs, pillows, etc.

Important information that hospital staff need

for older patients especially:

1. How or why did they go to the hospital?
2. Was the reason for hospitalization sudden or over a period of time.
3. Bring a list and share with appropriate staff: all medical problems.
4. (As mentioned earlier) list of medications. If any of the medications were only recently started.
5. List of medical specialists that have been involved in your loved one’s care and their phone numbers.

• Offer to help make connections or clarify — develop your partnership with these providers!

Common problems be be alert to that can arise

for older adults in hospital: 

1.  New incontinence problems.
2. Increased problems with memory. May be indicator of delirium that if addressed promptly can improve outcome significantly:

• Delirium: 30-60% of older adults will have problems with delirium during hospitalization.
• 80% of older adults in ICU will have problems with delirium. Sudden onset confusion that can wax and wane throughout the day can be indicative of delirium.
• Family caregivers may be the first to recognize symptoms of delirium!

Stay Informed:

1.  Any new diagnoses that are found during hospitalization.
2. Test results (can be helpful to ask ahead of time how to find out about results of tests).
3. When you can’t be at the hospital — find out who you should call to know how things are going.

Your eyes and ears are really important to your loved ones care:

Things to take note of…

1. Encourage staff to let them eat while sitting up: Better for digestion. Better for maintaining muscle mass. Better for preventing aspiration pneumonia. Better for preventing delirium and resulting increased cognitive impairment.
2. Early mobility — Eating while sitting up, helps with this. Remember for an older person 3 days in bed will result in 40 to 50% loss in muscle mass.  
3. Toileting — keeping track of bowel movement regularity.  What was it before hospitalization?  Let the staff know.  Help prevent skin breakdown and maintain functional skills.
4. Increased or new pain. Let the staff know.  
5. Sudden change in functional skills — like all of the sudden, no longer feeding themselves.
6. Any new, sudden onset and or worsening symptoms you notice.

Staying connected and partnering with medical professionals

taking care of your loved one:

Interpersonal creativity: Be kind and patient as possible. Help them see you as an advocate in their job. It is said… “You can catch more flies with honey…”

When communication seems to have broken down:

1. Connect with the nurse supervisor.
2. Find out if there is a patient advocacy office.
3. Come prepared with your questions and concerns with paper and pencil.  Even bring notes you’ve taken documenting your concerns
4. Remember health care and hospital work in particular  is a labor or love but labor, nonetheless!