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Hospital Support for Your Loved OneWednesday, October 16, 2024
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When a loved one is admitted to the hospital, their home care services are often put on hold. With Warm Embrace, that’s never the case. Our team provides care wherever it’s needed—whether at home, in the hospital, or anywhere in between. Our clients need our support in the hospital just as much, if not more, than they do at home. Although our role may shift in a hospital setting, our presence remains crucial.
While some patients may simply enjoy having visitors, others benefit from having a trusted advocate by their side—a person who can make a real difference in their comfort, health, and overall hospital experience.
Here are a few examples that illustrate just how impactful hospital support can be:
A Vital Helping Hand in Hospital CareOne client was admitted to the hospital after a fall that fractured her collarbone and dislocated her shoulder, leaving her dominant arm immobilized in a sling. When I arrived to visit her, I was heartbroken. Her call button was awkwardly pinned to her pillow above her left shoulder, just out of reach, and her lunch tray sat untouched on a table that she couldn’t reach. She was quietly calling, “Help…can someone help me?” but her voice was too faint to carry over the din of the hospital. It was 3 p.m., and she hadn’t had anything to eat or drink since breakfast.
As I unwrapped each item on her lunch tray, it was clear that even if the tray had been reachable, she still couldn’t have managed on her own—she needed both hands to open drink lids or unwrap packaged items. Eating with her non-dominant hand was nearly impossible for her under these circumstances. While I spoon-fed her lunch and ensured she was comfortable, it underscored the critical importance of our role in hospital support.
Providing Calm and Consistency in a Confusing EnvironmentHospital stays can be disorienting, and many elderly patients are at risk of developing delirium, which presents as extreme confusion and can even mimic dementia. A person without dementia or in the early stages of it can suddenly appear to be in a much later stage if they experience delirium.
For another client, the situation was just that: he had recently undergone surgery, and the effects of anesthesia, pain medication, disrupted sleep, and unfamiliar surroundings triggered a severe episode of delirium. He began lashing out at hospital staff, convinced they intended to harm him. He refused treatment, shouted, and became increasingly distressed.
We learned that he was a war veteran and believed he was being held against his will. Our caregivers took the time to sit with him for hours, talking with him and helping him feel grounded. By wearing civilian clothing instead of scrubs, we helped him distinguish our team from the hospital staff he associated with danger. Through trust and rapport, we were able to reassure him, explain procedures, and calm his fears, creating a pathway for his safe care.
Meeting Immediate Needs and Providing ComfortHaving a caregiver present in the hospital means basic needs—food, water, toileting assistance—are met without delay, providing reassurance and comfort. Beyond that, our caregivers offer a listening ear and mental stimulation, engaging in conversation so patients feel connected instead of isolated. This companionship helps ease anxiety and can positively impact recovery and the length of a hospital stay.
Warm Embrace provides not only hospital care but also continues support at home. Let us help your loved one feel supported every step of the way. Call us to learn more! |
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Chloe Hamilton 116 December 9, 2024 |
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Lissette Mairena Wong 36 August 7, 2024 |
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Avery Hamilton 4 June 7, 2018 |
