This past week, I've been on the caregiver side of the equation, rather than the patient role I've often found myself in. My husband was in the hospital for several days with pulmonary embolisms (blood clots in lungs) and last week I also visited my dad, who is in the nursing home with Alzheimer's and kidney failure (he's been on dialysis for years). I learned some things.
1) I'm a good patient advocate, because I know firsthand what it's like to be very uncomfortable. So when my husband asked for earplugs and I said "sure, but... why?" he told me his roommate, who was very sick but also delusional, was up all night moaning and shouting "hello?" because he couldn't figure out how to use the call button... I thought "what would I want in this situation?" (and I've been in this situation. I had a roommate who turned the heat up as high as it would go, and was deaf as a doornail and had visitors constantly, and complained loudly all day "I have pneumonia, I have pneumonia." Meanwhile I'm thinking "I'm on immune suppressants- I don't want pneumonia!" ). What did I want for me then, and Joe later? A different roommate.
I went to the nurses' station, explained the situation and nicely asked if there were a bed in another room we could move to. And they did it, right away, no problem. When my dad told me his ears were clogged, I went to the nurse station and asked for him to get an ear cleaning. He told me his shoes were too small, so I asked my mom and sister to bring him different shoes and/ or take him to get a new pair (I was on the way out of town as he told me this). It's easier for me to ask for these things for other people than for myself, but I have had to learn to speak up over the years rather than suffer in silence and resentment. Most people can't read minds. And for the most part, that's probably a good thing.
2) Remember when you go to visit people, it's not about you. It's about them. Think "How can I be helpful?" Just listen? Bring something? Ask them if they need anything from the "outside world?" Offer to run errands or pet-sit?
3) Set the tone. When I go to visit my dad, I always walk in and say "Hi Dad!" That does 3 things- gives him a clue I'm one of his daughters, just in case he's confused (so far he always knows it's me) and it frees him from having to initiate the conversation, and sets a nice cheerful tone. I decide before I go in that I'm going to have a good visit and keep an eye out for anything he needs that isn't being tended to. I often take him out for a walk outside. He loves being outside. And it gives me a good gauge on how he is doing physically. He was much weaker this time, so I could tell he hadn't been getting much activity.
4) Taking time to visit someone and lift them up or help them in some way can be really rewarding. But you have to remember to take care of yourself too. Still get sleep, regular meals, and downtime. You can't give from an empty well. And if you're someone with a chronic illness, you need to be mindful of not spreading yourself too thin energetically.
5) Short visits are better than no visits. You don't need to invest your whole afternoon visiting someone. In fact, short visits are better because sick people get worn out and sometimes feel they need to be "up" and on good behavior and cheery for their visitors. Whenever I leave my Dad, I say "Well, I gotta go," and there's no drama. He just thanks me for coming by and absorbs himself in a magazine or TV.
6) Do what you're good at. If it's running errands, or bugging the nurses for things that were neglected, or asking the doctor questions, getting on the grapevine and asking others to help out, bringing a dog to visit (if it's allowed), or just being there visiting- find what you have to offer and do that.
It took me a couple visits to my Dad before I learned how to visit him and not feel awkward or sad, but now that I've figured out how to visit him, I look forward to it. He's sweeter and mellower than ever before, he's so appreciative of the visits, he tells me he loves me, and he has all the time in the world for me. And he always asks how Joe and I are doing. Dad wasn't like this before. He wasn't mean, just kind of preoccupied. So, in a way, this time with him is a gift. I remember when his dad died, my dad said he regretted never telling him he loved him. Because my Dad is slipping away so slowly, there's no reason to not be able to say anything that never got said before.
I'm sure I still make mistakes, but I've gotten much better and far less afraid of visiting sick friends and relatives in the hospital and nursing homes.
I'm sure there's more to say on this topic, lots more. Maybe some of you have some thoughts and suggestions to offer on being a good visitor/ patient advocate?
Carla Ulbrich
The Singing Patient
www.youtube.com/user/carlaulbrich
Here's a tune from one of my stays at a much less hospitable hospital. Forget bingo- I couldn't even get a decent blanket.
1) I'm a good patient advocate, because I know firsthand what it's like to be very uncomfortable. So when my husband asked for earplugs and I said "sure, but... why?" he told me his roommate, who was very sick but also delusional, was up all night moaning and shouting "hello?" because he couldn't figure out how to use the call button... I thought "what would I want in this situation?" (and I've been in this situation. I had a roommate who turned the heat up as high as it would go, and was deaf as a doornail and had visitors constantly, and complained loudly all day "I have pneumonia, I have pneumonia." Meanwhile I'm thinking "I'm on immune suppressants- I don't want pneumonia!" ). What did I want for me then, and Joe later? A different roommate.
I went to the nurses' station, explained the situation and nicely asked if there were a bed in another room we could move to. And they did it, right away, no problem. When my dad told me his ears were clogged, I went to the nurse station and asked for him to get an ear cleaning. He told me his shoes were too small, so I asked my mom and sister to bring him different shoes and/ or take him to get a new pair (I was on the way out of town as he told me this). It's easier for me to ask for these things for other people than for myself, but I have had to learn to speak up over the years rather than suffer in silence and resentment. Most people can't read minds. And for the most part, that's probably a good thing.
2) Remember when you go to visit people, it's not about you. It's about them. Think "How can I be helpful?" Just listen? Bring something? Ask them if they need anything from the "outside world?" Offer to run errands or pet-sit?
3) Set the tone. When I go to visit my dad, I always walk in and say "Hi Dad!" That does 3 things- gives him a clue I'm one of his daughters, just in case he's confused (so far he always knows it's me) and it frees him from having to initiate the conversation, and sets a nice cheerful tone. I decide before I go in that I'm going to have a good visit and keep an eye out for anything he needs that isn't being tended to. I often take him out for a walk outside. He loves being outside. And it gives me a good gauge on how he is doing physically. He was much weaker this time, so I could tell he hadn't been getting much activity.
4) Taking time to visit someone and lift them up or help them in some way can be really rewarding. But you have to remember to take care of yourself too. Still get sleep, regular meals, and downtime. You can't give from an empty well. And if you're someone with a chronic illness, you need to be mindful of not spreading yourself too thin energetically.
5) Short visits are better than no visits. You don't need to invest your whole afternoon visiting someone. In fact, short visits are better because sick people get worn out and sometimes feel they need to be "up" and on good behavior and cheery for their visitors. Whenever I leave my Dad, I say "Well, I gotta go," and there's no drama. He just thanks me for coming by and absorbs himself in a magazine or TV.
6) Do what you're good at. If it's running errands, or bugging the nurses for things that were neglected, or asking the doctor questions, getting on the grapevine and asking others to help out, bringing a dog to visit (if it's allowed), or just being there visiting- find what you have to offer and do that.
It took me a couple visits to my Dad before I learned how to visit him and not feel awkward or sad, but now that I've figured out how to visit him, I look forward to it. He's sweeter and mellower than ever before, he's so appreciative of the visits, he tells me he loves me, and he has all the time in the world for me. And he always asks how Joe and I are doing. Dad wasn't like this before. He wasn't mean, just kind of preoccupied. So, in a way, this time with him is a gift. I remember when his dad died, my dad said he regretted never telling him he loved him. Because my Dad is slipping away so slowly, there's no reason to not be able to say anything that never got said before.
I'm sure I still make mistakes, but I've gotten much better and far less afraid of visiting sick friends and relatives in the hospital and nursing homes.
I'm sure there's more to say on this topic, lots more. Maybe some of you have some thoughts and suggestions to offer on being a good visitor/ patient advocate?
Carla Ulbrich
The Singing Patient
www.youtube.com/user/carlaulbrich
Here's a tune from one of my stays at a much less hospitable hospital. Forget bingo- I couldn't even get a decent blanket.
3 comments:
Great tips Carla! You are a great patient advocate, thank you! And you would make a great nurse I am sure, if you could handle the blood and all :0). Sorry to hear about Joe! I hope he recovers completely and does well. Blood clots in the lungs can be scary, so glad to know he had/has a good doctor. Please tell him I said hello! cheers, Chip
Carla, you are an amazing person and all around great wife and musician. I love your music and hope to see you again in New Jersey.. You gave some great tips on how to visit someone in the hospital.. Especially about what someone can bring.. In my case, it was good ice cream every day. Food was really terrible at Denville, NJ hospital.. Take care. Hope Joe stays healthy.. You two make a fantastic team.. Nance from Parsippany, NJ
630 Carla, you are an amazing wife and performer.. Your advice on how to visit a person in the hospital is perfect!! I especially like the part of bringing food/ice cream whatever the patient asks for!!! Sorry to hear about Joe having blood clots.. I love your music and my husband does too.. You are just a fantastic performer and your shows always cheer me up.. Nance from Parsippany, NJ Keep well!
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