Family can ease elder's hospital stay

<p>Many families are familiar with the all but inevitable admission of an elder family member to the hospital. A routine visit to the doctor may lead to an unexpected need for hospitalization, or a crisis will occur — a crisis that creates concern and confusion.</p><p>The family plays a vital role assisting in the care of a member who is hospitalized. If you are adequately prepared, there are several ways you can increase the safety and quality of care that your loved one receives.</p><p>First, even before anyone gets ill, make sure each adult member of the family has a durable power of attorney for health care. This document appoints a trusted individual to make health care decisions if you are unable to speak for yourself, and it ensures that health care providers give the kind of care you wish to receive. The forms are easily obtained. Ask your physician, or head to the Internet. An online search for “California Advance Health Care Directive” will provide several sample forms you can use for each adult member of your family.</p><p>Copies of the Advance Health Care Directive should be kept in a safe place, readily accessible when needed. Whenever a family member is admitted to the hospital, a copy of this document should be hand-delivered to the hospital staff to be included in the current medical record. This is true for each and every hospitalization, even if it has only been a short time since the last admission.</p><p>The other essential document the family can provide is a current legible list of treating physicians, diagnoses and medications. Medications are often prescribed by several different doctors and because of this, vital information can be overlooked on admission to a hospital. Accurate medical information is critical. The list can be carried in a wallet so it is readily available when suddenly needed.</p><p>Once these important documents have been provided, arrange for a bedside advocate to stay with your family member. Do not leave a loved one alone in the hospital if you can possibly avoid it.</p><p>As stated in a recent Wall Street Journal article, “Families are allies for safety and quality. Having someone with you in a hospital who is alert and asking questions can help stave off all kinds of potential problems. A personal advocate can be a valuable resource. It doesn't have to be a relative — and it can be more than one person — as long as they know you and are willing to speak up.”</p><p>The bedside advocate can help in many ways. A few suggestions include:</p><p>- Regularly clean all the surfaces with antibacterial wipes and ask everyone who enters the room to wash their hands.</p><p>- Ask nurses to read medication orders to you and make sure the orders match the patient's ID bracelet. If it is a new medication, ask what it is for and what the effects might be.</p><p>- Keep a journal for observations and use it to document treatments and therapies. When a person is ill they are not necessarily able to hear and understand information about their condition. An advocate can be a clear communicator. This journal is especially important if you are sharing the bedside watch with others.</p><p>- Ask when the doctor will be visiting and be at the bedside during those visits so you can communicate directly with the treating physicians. Note important information in your journal.</p><p>Do not attempt to provide nursing care on your own. This includes giving medications and getting the patient in and out of bed by yourself.</p><p>Be respectful of the other patients' needs and the nursing staff, but don't hesitate to speak up if you have concerns.</p><p>It may be unrealistic for one person to fill the essential role of patient advocate, so organizing a team of family members and friends may be necessary. One helpful free Web-based community that can help you organize volunteers can be found at www.lotsahelpinghands.com.</p><p>Family involvement when a member is hospitalized can decrease the length of hospital stays, decrease the likelihood of complications and increase the effectiveness of treatments. You are not being asked to provide nursing care. You are simply doing what caring people do when they are concerned about their loved ones.</p><p>Dr. Stacey Kerr, a longtime Sonoma County family physician, graduated from UC Davis Medical School and has been certified in her specialty by the American Board of Family Medicine. Her columns are not intended as a substitute for hands-on medical advice or treatment. Consult your health care provider before adhering to any recommendations in this column. E-mail comments to drkerr@the-doctors-inn.com</p>