A stay at the clinic is no vacation. But with proper preparation, at least the stress stays at home.
Preparation for hospitalization
Most of the time, it’s just a few lines that shake up everyday life quite a bit: A doctor’s referral for inpatient treatment in the hospital. To ensure that the days on the ward are all about recovery, single people organize their daily routine best in advance – just like a vacation. The mailbox has to be emptied, the canary needs food, and next week the chimney sweep may be coming.
In case of an emergency – water damage, for example – someone should have access to the apartment. You’re lucky if you have a good connection to your neighbors or relatives living nearby. Written notes make it easier for the helper later on: Where is the bird food, when is the chimney sweep coming? If the duration of the hospital stay cannot be estimated, a trusted person must also be able to find important documents – ideally, these should be together in a central location.
If no relatives or neighbors come into question as helpers, one can turn to a so-called housing and pet service. This offers the complete care package. “Emptying the mailbox every day, airing the house, feeding and caring for the animal, and filling the refrigerator in time for the homebody – everything is possible,” says Angelika May, who runs such a service office. “For this you pay around 10 euros per day.” Obtaining comparative offers can be worthwhile – and the trust in the hired apartment guardian must be right.
Service provider
Animal welfare associations or the veterinarian know addresses of animal boarding facilities or people who are happy to take dog, cat or canary in care.
On the day of admission, it is best to be chauffeured to the clinic: Neither do you know how you will feel on the day of discharge, nor should the car be parked near the clinic for too long. This not only costs unnecessary fees, but could also attract thieves.
If you have the opportunity, you should visit the clinic and the ward before D-day. This way, you get to know the nurses and caregivers and can clarify the most important points in advance: How do I pay any fees? Can I have mail and newspaper sent to the clinic?
Notes for emergencies
What to do if hospitalization was not planned? Things can happen very quickly after an accident, fall or stroke. Often the patient is not responsive at all. In such a case, it is generally advisable to keep an emergency card near the ID card. On it is written who should be notified, what medications one takes regularly and other special features such as a diabetes disease.
Social service helps
But how do you organize necessary things that still need to be done from the hospital bed?
The nursing staff is always the first point of contact and will work with the patient to find quick and uncomplicated solutions. The social services of the clinics are also responsible for legal-social issues, for example, if rehab treatment needs to be organized or the patient needs aids during the initial period at home.
Many homes have volunteer helpers such as the “Green Ladies.” “They have time for conversations and help in small ways: for example, getting a magazine at the kiosk, making a phone call or writing a letter,” explains Hubertus Dittmar from the Association of Protestant Hospital Aid.
