Although this and other great resources for caregivers is pinned in the "Daily Challenges" forum, we realize that sometimes folks first come to ECO during (or right before) a crisis and do not know their way around ECO very well yet, so we have repeated it here in hopes it will help caregivers who are new to this stressful situation.

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Eldercare generally brings hospital stays at some point. Sometimes, we have time to think and prepare, but other times, we don't. Here are some tips that help make a HOME CAREGIVER'S life a little easier when their LO must go to the hospital...
These tips are for CAREGIVERS and not the patient's "survival kit."

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ALWAYS have a bag packed with the following:
•*Copies of DPOA
• Copies of Living Will, if any
•*Copies of the front & back of your LO's Medicare or Medicaid Card, Social Security card and supplemental insurance card (if any)
•*Copies of front & back of state ID card, military ID or driver's license (if any)
•*Copies of the current list of ALL medications and dosages (including OTC meds and vitamins) Copy this information word for word from the medication label. Know WHEN the last dose was given and when the next dose is due.
•*If the patient is on oxygen, note this and how many liters per hour they are on
•*Copies of current brief medical history & any allergies/sensitivities
• Copies of special diet, if any
• Copy of any chart or journal you keep at home concerning your LO's care

(have SEVERAL copies of the above. Don't forget to make more when you get home again)

• Telephone list of important numbers - physician(s), home health, relatives, neighbors
• Extra undies, socks, toothbrush & hairbrush, nail file & mouthwash for you
• Lip balm (chapped lips)
• Tampons, pads, etc. if you use these
• PLENTY of kleenex
• Notebook & pens for documenting, notes & questions
• YOUR medications, OTC headache medicine, Rolaids or equivalent
• Books, magazines, crossword puzzle books, newspapers to keep you and your LO amused
• Cell phone & charger
• Nicorette gum or patches if you are a smoker
• Wear COMFORTABLE shoes so you can run up and down hospital corridors without slipping or blisters - cross-trainers are excellent.
• Some $1 bills and quarters for vending machines, newspapers, etc.

The above kit should be kept ready to go at all times. The items below are supplemental items which can be packed if you have time (ie. not an emergency trip).

• Pillow from home (colored or print pillowcase)
• Sweat suit (hospitals are COLD)
• Comfy slippers for your worn out feet
• Simple snacks and a few canned beverages
• Amusements - handheld games, needlework or simple crafts, reading material

ER visits and hospitalizations are very stressful for caregivers and it's very common to forget things you never would under normal conditions. Having a prepared list at hand HELPS. Write things down so that your brain doesn't have to remember and juggle so much information.

You WILL be asked many questions repeatedly - like when meds were administered last, what the patient has had to eat or drink that day, when their last BM occurred, approximate height & weight of your LO, etc., so when you have a moment, update your paperwork above so that you won't have to remember if/when asked repeatedly. It's also helpful to write down any symptoms and when they began. When you think of more information and questions, WRITE IT DOWN.

If your LO is cognitively impaired, or so sick that they are confused, you should plan to stay with them for at least the first 24 hours. As their primary caregiver, YOU are the "go-to" person and should stay with your person until you think they are sufficiently oriented and/or it is safe to leave them alone or with a hired sitter, family member, etc. Be wise in selecting someone to sit with your LO and be sure it is someone who will inform you of things you need to know, call you if ANYTHING seems odd, and not cause trouble.
• ASK QUESTIONS! ANYTIME a medication is given, ASK what it is and WRITE IT DOWN! Just because you have informed folks 10-20 times about allergies, DO NOT ASSUME that someone won't make a mistake. If something seems wrong or is not what the doctor ordered or discussed with you (you DID write down what the doc said, right?), request that the nurse DOUBLE CHECK before administering it.
• READ the labels on IV bags, etc. to be SURE that your LO's name is on it and not another patient's! When a tech comes to take blood or other samples for testing, ASK what the test is and write it down... After all, there's no need for your mother to have a sperm count, right?!
• It is reasonable to request that ANYONE who examines your LO washes their hands BEFORE they do so. If they do not, ask them to! People DO forget, so there is no reason to be ugly - just remind them.
• PAY ATTENTION to what you are told by the doctor and nurses. Sometimes, they do breeze in and out so quickly, it's almost like you just imagined that they were there, so make sure you have asked the questions on your list (you DID write them down, right?) and understand the answers you are given. Don't be too shy to say something like, "WHOA!! Hold on there, podner - you're losing me. Let's back that horse up..."
• If you don't understand a term or procedure or name of a drug, ASK for a more clear explanation or how to spell what the person just said... Be sure you understand what's going on before the doctor or nurse leaves the room!
• If you cannot understand a doctor or nurse's accent, ASK for someone who can "translate." Be polite, but do NOT just nod your head like a bobble doll and wonder what the heck he/she said... ASK for help if you don't understand what you are being told.
• Be patient! The wheels of most ERs and hospitals seem to turn mighty slowly unless someone is spraying blood everywhere & screamin' bloody murder! If you think something is taking an excessively long time, do ask someone, but be polite - there may be someone in the next room who has bones sticking out every which way that is in more critical shape than your LO. The only exception to this is if someone is not treating your LO with a reasonable level of respect and due diligence; then being assertive and curt is NOT out of line. Do not hesitate to ask for a supervisor if you think something is wrong and you feel like you are being blown off or "handled."
• When possible, go to the ER by ambulance. Your LO will be on a gurney and will either go directly into an ER room, if available, or be parked in the corridor, which keeps you in the way and in the faces of the staff.
• If your LO is on oxygen, do NOT bring their portable unless you are NOT going by ambulance. Be SURE to remind the EMTs and hospital intake person that your LO is on O2 and be SURE they hook them up promptly with the correct liters/hour. Remember that YOU will have to keep up with your LO's personal equipment so travel as light as you can.
• Do NOT bring patient wheelchairs, walkers or canes. It is VERY difficult to keep up with all that equipment and it frequently gets stolen. USE the hospital wheelchairs.
• If your LO is with a caregiver other than you, copies of the starred items should ALWAYS be available (in an envelope marked "In Case of Emergency" with YOUR contact numbers) as certain information will have to be supplied to the EMTs and ER immediately upon transport and arrival.

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I hope that other members will add their tips to this and as they do, I'll add 'em to the discussion above for easy reference.

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This message has been edited. Last edited by: Moms_Buddy,