| Let's face it; going to the hospital for any kind of | | | | with a trusted friend but don't wear them to the |
| procedure is daunting, even for the young and | | | | hospital! It is also best not to bring electric hair |
| relatively healthy individual. But, for the older | | | | dryers as they may not be grounded to the |
| American, a hospital visit can be quite frightening | | | | hospital's standards and pose a safety issue. |
| and even dangerous. Older people are more | | | | 5. A geriatric assessment may be done by the |
| susceptible to hospital borne infections and can | | | | hospital care team for some elderly patients. |
| often be a bit neglected by busy nurses and | | | | There may be complex problems that could |
| other caregivers. The following hospital tips have | | | | threaten their ability to live alone after certain |
| been compiled specifically for the older individual | | | | surgeries or procedures. Usually, the physician |
| who is facing a hospital stay. | | | | assigned to the case will request the assessment |
| 1. If you know you are going to be admitted to a | | | | by another physician, nurse, social worker and |
| hospital in the near future, ask a relative or close | | | | physical therapist. This assessment can help older |
| friend to visit you as much as possible, while you | | | | patients receive all of the care they may need |
| are in the hospital. Ask that person to be | | | | after they are discharged from the hospital. |
| prepared to watch over you and make sure that | | | | 6. Older patients can take much longer to recover |
| your needs are met, should you not be able to do | | | | from the effects of anesthesia than younger |
| so, yourself. | | | | individuals. It is important that the patient get |
| 2. Whenever possible, try to do most of the | | | | plenty of rest and a lot of fluids to help offset |
| pre-admission process over the phone before the | | | | these effects. Report to a nurse or the physician |
| day of your surgery/treatment. That way, you | | | | if excessive dizziness, nausea or forgetfulness |
| can be sure that the information you are giving is | | | | continues to be a problem more than 24 hours |
| correct and you will not be as nervous as you will | | | | after the surgery. Also, the older patient should |
| be on the day of your admission. Be sure and tell | | | | not be allowed to get up on their own after |
| the admissions coordinator about ALL medications | | | | anesthesia without someone else to assist and |
| you are taking (including non-prescription pills and | | | | evaluate their ability to get around without tripping |
| supplements). You should also plan to bring these | | | | over wires and tubes (always a hazard in the |
| medications with you on the day of your surgery | | | | hospital), |
| treatment in their original containers. Expect that | | | | 7. Older patients can also experience more |
| they will be taken from you and then reissued by | | | | problems with IV's because their skin is much |
| the hospital pharmacist in conjunction with your | | | | thinner and their veins tend to collapse. Any arm |
| physician. Hospitals do not allow patients to take | | | | pain, sudden coldness, a huge bubble forming |
| medications on their own while under their care. | | | | under the skin or stinging should be reported to |
| 3. Make sure you bring your favorite nightclothes, | | | | the nurse right away as the vein may have |
| a robe, slippers and some comfortable clothes to | | | | collapsed and the fluid could be leaking under the |
| wear home after discharge. You should also bring | | | | skin. |
| your own toothbrush, toothpaste, brush, | | | | In short, the elderly need special attention and |
| shampoo, deodorant, shaving cream and razor, | | | | care when admitted to the hospital. It is the |
| etc. Hospitals will not provide these items to | | | | responsibility of the hospital staff to make sure |
| patients. Should you forget to bring any of these | | | | that the outcome is the best it can possibly be, |
| items, the hospital gift shop should have these | | | | but the reality is that the elderly need an |
| items in stock at all times. | | | | advocate (or several) in the form of family and |
| 4. Do NOT bring valuable jewelry, including your | | | | friends to make sure their needs are truly |
| watch and wedding rings. Leave these at home or | | | | properly met. |