2-16-25
Over the last week, since my husband entered the hospital, I’ve been thinking a lot about his past stays and what I have learned from them that inform how I handle each day he is there. (Thankfully he was moved to subacute rehab on Friday and is on to the next phase of recovery.)
Here are some of the lessons I’ve learned.
Caregiver Tips for the Hospital/Rehab:
If your hospital has a patient portal, make sure to create an account for your patient. Our hospital uses MyChart, and it becomes my best friend during a hospital stay. Test results are posted, and there are notes from all the providers, from therapists to the doctors to nurses and different specialists. I may not know all the abbreviations and medical terminology, although I’ve figured out much of it, but it gives me an idea of questions to ask.
Try to get to know the nurses. I have found them to be my biggest allies, answering my questions and providing the peace of mind that my husband is well taken care of.
Keep the phone numbers of the Case Managers handy and use them as a resource. During one stay, my husband and I both had Covid, and he ended up in the hospital. I wasn’t able to be there, and I had a terrible time getting the doctors to call me to give me updates. I called Case Management every day asking for a doctor to call me back, to the point that regardless of which person I talked to, I didn’t even have to tell them who I was. They knew my name around the office. When my husband was finally discharged to rehab and the case manager called to tell me, I told her, “I’m sure you’ll be glad to get rid of me.”
When you meet with Case Management, make it clear what your loved one’s baseline is. Also tell them what your needs are. A good case manager should care about you too.
As your loved one prepares to come home, try to be present for the therapies so you feel comfortable with where they are at and know what might be expected of you when they get home.
Ask as many questions as you have and take notes. Also don’t be afraid to ask for clarification. Doctors and nurses use medical terminology, and there have been many times when I’ve needed to ask what a particular word meant. Ask, ask, and ask some more!
Get some rest and take care of yourself. I know it’s so hard thinking of your loved one in the hospital, but there is a lot of information coming at you and a lot of uncertainties about the future, and you need time to process and focus on your own health. I haven’t been so good at taking this advice, but it is something that I have recommitted to.
These might seem very obvious, but I can tell you that when you are in the midst of a medical crisis, it’s so easy to forget. You’re not alone. I understand and I’m here for you.
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