Five Things You Need to Know If Your Family Member is in the Hospital

When my father was in the hospital, during one of his many stays, he contracted a staph infection. My family and I were appalled! How could this happen? We thought, for this to happen, the staff weren't providing adequate care. Often this is the case, but there are some things you can look out for and do, to ensure your family member is getting the care they deserve.

1. Stay Only As Long As Necessary
Most hospitals and nursing homes try hard to ensure their facilities are clean and free of bacteria. The reality is though, that there are a lot of bacteria floating around that is very difficult to get rid of, resulting in the possibility of your loved one contracting an unwanted complication due to air-borne bacteria. So a word of caution: stay in the hospital only as long as necessary to ward off potential problems.

2. Staff Shortages
The staffing issue for health care facilities often keeps schedulers awake at night. There just isn't enough hospital staff to go around and the shortage is getting worse. How can you help? You can do several things for your loved one like getting that drink of water for mom or dad, or turning the TV channel if they can't. These little things don't seem like much but can sure add up, and the time spent with your family member can be time addressing their medical issues.

3. Visit Often
You have a family of your own, and can't be with mom or dad very much during their hospital stay. Maybe you work. But one for the ways to ensure quality care is to be there! Go visit often and observe the care your family is receiving.

4. Ask Questions
If you don't understand what is going on: Ask! The staff is there help, and although they are busy, it is their duty to assist you to understand what is going on with your loved one's care.

5. Overnight Stays
Many hospitals offer cots or accommodations to close family members so they can spend the night or time with their hospitalized family member. This is an excellent way to see what kind of care they are receiving.