For the Caregiver
Your role as a patient advocate
While your loved one is in the hospital, who will speak up for him or her? You can, by being the patient’s advocate—the person who will help the patient work with doctors, nurses and hospital staff. To help your loved one make the best decisions about their care and treatment, follow the advice in the Caregiver list below.
While you are making sure that your loved one’s needs are being met, don’t neglect your own. Caregiving is a stressful and time-consuming job. You may neglect your diet, your normal exercise routine, and your sleep needs. You may find that you have little or no time to spend with friends, to relax, or to just be by yourself for a while. But down time is important. Don’t be reluctant to ask for help in caring for your loved one. Take advantage of friends’ offers to help and look into local adult daycare programs. Find out more about how you can ease the stress of caregiving at www.caregiver.org.
Caregiver...
know what condition
Know what condition your loved one is being treated for.
patient’s rights
Know your patient’s rights and responsibilities.
advance directives?
Know whether or not your loved one has an advance directive and if so, what it specifies.
ask questions
If your loved one is too ill or reluctant to ask questions, make note of their concerns and any you may have and don’t be afraid to speak up.
help track medications
Your loved one may be prescribed medications while in the hospital and may be seen by several doctors. Keep track of it all.
what’s next
Will your loved one need home care or care at another facility? Ask to speak with a case manager to find out what your options are.