Suggestions For Parents And Friends Of The Family Of A Hospitalized Child

A friend’s two-year-old daughter was put in the hospital unexpectedly a few days ago. Of course they weren’t prepared. Having watched this family struggle through the state, I became aware of a few things each of us should consider if faced with a similar situation. There are also items you might consider bringing the family for their discontinue in the hospital.

Unless the child is in intensive care or the neonatal nursery, the child will not be looked after on a constant basis. A family member staying in the room would be the best situation for the child. Having a parent or family member in the room will help transition the child as well as being able to ask all the right questions and making sure the suggested treatment is being followed. Consent will need to be given for anyone being treated under the age of eighteen so the caregiver should also be able to give consent.

This becomes difficult if the parents both work full time or have other siblings at home. Family and friends is definitely the key here. Capture some time to discuss who you think would be best to care for your non-hospitalized children. Having this plan in place when not being faced with an actual situation will make the process go more smoothly if faced with tragedy. I would suggest speaking with those you have on your list and make sure they are comfortable and willing to step in for such a situation.

Prepare now in case of an emergency. Give a family member a list of friends and colleagues that would need to or want to know of your situation. Allow someone else to act as communications for your family. Let your friends and colleagues know this point person would be the one to contact with questions and for updates. That way, your family’s time, which is already stressed, will not be wasted on repeating information to well wishers.

Discuss if one parent will stay the entire hospital stay or if you will rotate. This really depends on your schedule and what you think works best. However, if you do choose for one parent to be the consistent caregiver, this person will need breaks and a lot of support. There will be a level of care needed for this support person as well. They will probably need personal items brought to them, they might need food service and they will need stress relievers.

Know your insurance. Keep your insurance paperwork in order and easily accessible in your home. You may need to order a friend or relative how to gather it. Always carry your insurance card with you. Be prepared to know what is covered and ask questions while in the hospital. Call your provider and let them know you are in the hospital, explain the ailment and ask for their policy for this illness. Ask for the amount of days they hide for the ailment. You might be surprised. Some insurance require you to call before being admitted if the situation is not an emergency.

The hospital is not home. Children are most comfortable with routine and familiarity. Bring a few items from home to help them transition. If they have a comfort item like a blanket, a stuffed animal, or a pillow, these are certain items to bring. But sometimes just having their bedspread or familiar items from their room will help comfort them and gain the room less foreign or sterile.

Young children will play even when sick. Having a few toys or easy craft items like a coloring book and stickers will help pass the time. These are also great items to bring as a get-well gift. Most rooms have a TV and a DVD player or VCR. Movies from home will be welcomed however; this alone will not have the child’s time.

Your child is the patient, and although you are welcomed to stay in the hospital, you are not the patient or their charge. Most hospitals will provide you with towels. Some hospitals provide a snack kitchen for family members. Your meals are not covered by insurance and oftentimes they are required to be paid for on the spot. Toiletries are also not provided or if they are, they are minimal. Again, these are great items to bring to someone if you visit. I keep a stash of hotel-sized toiletries in my bathroom and found them to be enormous for unbiased this occasion. Additionally, medicine is only provided for the patient. Consider bringing some aspirin, daily-required medications and vitamins for the caregiver.

A change of clothing that is comfortable and easy to sleep in will be required. Consider that your child will probably spill on you so an extra change of clothes is a suitable understanding. I would not recommend packing a suitcase full of clothing options but rather have a friend or family member bring you a few things each day. They can then take home your soiled clothing. Also send home expensive jewelry items or excessive amounts of money, they are not needed and can find misplaced. I found the hospital’s temperate varies. While the room was warm most of the day, in the evening, there was a blast of cold air on a regular basis. A sweater or jacket would be useful, as would a pair of socks or slippers.

No matter how they treat each other at home, siblings will be concerned. Keep them updated on progress. If allowed, have them visit for short periods of time. Keeping them involved will assist with the family dynamic once the ill child returns home.

Probably the second most principal need after the insurance information would be your contact list. Knowing how to near friends and family members without having your home resources at your fingertips is crucial. Technology today makes this a bit easier. Storing information on your cell phone, pda or blackberry. But if you aren’t a techie, keep a section of paper with important contacts in your purse or wallet. You’d be amazed whose phone number you forget when you are under stress and not thinking clearly.

While your cell phone is a great resource, most hospitals don’t allow you to use them in the rooms. You can step outside the hospital or into a waiting room and use your cell phone. In order to use the phone in the room, consider a phone card for long distance usage. This would be a useful gift.

Many of the newly build facilities and refurbished hospitals have web access in the room. There is a monitor that will allow you to access the Internet. Knowing how to access your email via a website would be handy. Having contact information stored in an address book associated with this web mail would also be useful.

As mentioned above, there might be food service for a caregiver but it might also be required that you pay for your meal immediately. Cash is your best option, but you don’t want to carry a lot at any given time. Your mind is not focused on protecting or keeping track of your valuables. Vending machines, cafeterias and gift shops will become your mode of shopping. Bringing a friend some small bills and change each day would be a welcomed gift.

Many families will not ask for help. Often times being too proud or afraid to impose. Just take the position that they need help. Even after his or her return home, having someone to chat with is a huge stress release. Prefer a moment to call and see how they are doing. Ask if you can call again in a few days. Provide taxi services for the other family members schedules. Just because they are home, there is quiet a recovery period and bringing a meal, while maybe not needed, will definitely be helpful and allow them to use the time usually associated with preparing the meal for catching up on chores or time spent catching up with family members.

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