Advocating for your loved if they are in a hospital or facility
If your loved one is taken to a hospital or other medical facility such as a skilled nursing facility you will need to help make sure they have everything they need and are comfortable during their stay as well as supporting their physical and emotional well-being while they are there.
Planning ahead:
Consider pre-packing a hospital bag that has all the things that your loved one would need during a hospital stay that would make them feel comfortable so you’re not rushing around or trying to find things in a hurry. The bag should contain things like: spare changes of clothing, pajamas, toothbrush and toothpaste, magazines or books, photos and mementos.
Make sure that you know the route to the hospital.
During a hospital stay:
Check in with the admissions team at the hospital or facility and ask them if they can share an update with you each day. You can also ask them if you have not heard anything by 5pm can you call to check in. If your loved one’s doctor isn’t available then you can ask to check in with the nurse or a nursing supervisor.
If someone uses a word, diagnosis or acronym that you don’t understand then ask to have it explained. Never be afraid to ask questions. You can say: “I’m sorry, I’m not sure what that word/acronym means. Can you explain it to me?”
Take a note of the specialists that are taking care of your loved one. Their name, role and when they came to visit.
Discharge
Planning for your loved ones discharge is an incredibly important role. You should feel happy that your loved one is being discharged at the right time, to the right place and that you understand what their needs will be once they are discharged. If your loved one is being discharged to their home do you feel that they will be safe and supported there.
Before leaving the hospital make sure you are aware of any new medications or changes to medication dosages. You should know what each medication is for, when they should be taken, how long the prescription is for and whether there are any side effects to look for.
The Caregiver Advise, Record, Enable (CARE) Act which has been signed into law in 4o US States and territories helps to make sure that a hospital does not discharge a patient without preparing the family caregivers. The CARE Act makes sure that hospitals must:
- Record the name of any family caregivers on the medical record of the person receiving care.
- Inform the family caregivers when their loved one is to be discharged.
- Provide family caregivers with education and instructions for any medical tasks that you will need to perform for your loved one at home.
For more information on the CARE Act see this fact sheet from AARP: https://www.aarp.org/content/dam/aarp/ppi/2019/03/the-care-act-implementation-progress-and-promise.pdf
