When someone you know and care about is currently staying at the hospital, it is important to reach out to them – showing that you care.
Whether your friend or family member is at the hospital following a surgical procedure, or if they are ill, visiting that person can help lift their spirits and speed up their recovery time.
Hospital stays make people feel anxious, causing each day to seem long and sometimes very lonely. We all have good intentions when we reach out to others, but it is very important to also keep in mind that hospital visits are much like modern etiquette, and can be counterintuitive.
The following are some tips to consider when someone you know is at the hospital –
1. Visiting. Always be sure to call or text the patient, or a close family member, before any hospital visit. Never just show up unannounced, as they may be feeling ill or could be sleeping and not be ready for guests. If you do visit the patient, try to remember that they are recovering, so the general rule of thumb is to only stay about 20 minutes.
2. Wash Your Hands. Always wash your hands before getting close or hugging the patient. Even if you think that you are clean, germs can be picked up on hands in a number of places at a hospital, or anywhere. Also remember to use your elbow, or the knuckles of your fingers, to push the elevator buttons, as germs linger in these areas and doing this helps keep your hands clean.
3. Turn Off Your Phone. When visiting someone in the hospital you should be there just for them. Talk with them and give them your undivided attention. Always turn your cell phone to silent and don’t look at it during the visit.
4. No Scents. When people are ill, they can be extra sensitive to fragrances. Resist your urge to wear perfume or scented lotion during hospital visits as the rooms are small and you don’t want the scent to bother them.
5. Good Gifts to Bring. Although flowers can help brighten a dreary hospital room, they are hard to transport home, when the patient is discharged. A great way to lift someone’s spirits, and help their hospital stay go quicker, is to bring a gift basket filled with several thoughtful items. Purchase a few magazines, puzzle books, colored pens, flavored lip balm, hand lotion, a journal and maybe even some colorful socks or slippers. These items are all things the patient can use during, and after their stay.
6. What to Say. If the conversation slows during your visit, try to bring up a light topic to talk about. Conversing about current events, or things on television or something you’ve found in a book, can make for good talks. Never start up gossip, and don’t discuss the patient’s prognosis – unless they bring it up, and then always just lend an ear and listen.
7. When to Leave. If a doctor comes in the room to talk to the patient, or other family stops in, that is often a good time for you to say your goodbyes and leave. Try to find out how long the person will be staying and make a plan to stop back in every three or four days.
For those staying in the hospital, guests can be like a ray of sunshine, bringing in a bit of the outside world. Follow these guidelines to ensure that your visit is a positive one for someone needing it.
