How to Support a Loved One in the Hospital During the Holidays
Being admitted to the hospital requires you to take time away from your home, pets, family, friends, work and routine, so it’s no wonder it leaves patients with many negative feelings. Research shows that time spent in the hospital can contribute to depression, delirium and dementia, especially among older adults. Coupled with the fact that the patient probably already feels physically unwell and may be in pain, this can be an overwhelmingly unpleasant experience for many.
At no time of the year is this truer than during the holidays. The reality is that medical facilities can be sad, empty and particularly depressing during this time of year. But there are some things you can do to brighten the mood and bring a little joy into the situation so your loved one doesn’t feel depressed. From sending a personalized care package to delivering handmade Christmas cookies, there are many thoughtful ways to help your loved one celebrate while in the hospital.
Send a Care Package — Unfortunately, due to the ever-lingering COVID pandemic, the hospital may not allow you to visit. Since the holidays are a popular time to travel, you may be away from home and find yourself unable to stop by in person. If you can’t be there, the next best thing is to send a comforting care package. We love the idea of sending cute stuffed animals to help deliver a great, big hug from afar. Make sure to include a personalized note to send holiday wishes and a get well soon message.
Bring a Holiday Meal — If you can visit in person, consider bringing your loved one a holiday meal and visiting on the actual holiday. Patients often get sick of hospital food, even during short-term stays, and will undoubtedly miss the home cooking and comforting flavors of the holiday. Don’t forget to bring all the fixings as well as dessert to give them the full experience.
Keep Traditions Alive — Just because your friend or family member can’t be there in person doesn’t mean you can’t continue with your special holiday traditions. Try your best to include them in every element of the holiday fun, whether it be a gift exchange, sending holiday cards, a Christmas cookie exchange or singing carols together. Many of the warmest holiday traditions can be carried out from the hospital room. For example, you can have a mini present wrapping party or help your loved one write out and mail their holiday cards from the hospital.
Video Chat with the Whole Family —If you’re supporting an older adult, help get them set up with a laptop, smartphone or tablet so they can video chat with the whole family during their stay. On the day of the holiday, video chat with your loved one while you go about your day — cooking, watching holiday movies, playing games or simply visiting with family. This will make them feel like they’re in the room with you. When the family comes over, take turns passing around the phone so your loved one gets to catch up with everyone. Note that it can be triggering for some patients to know that everyone is enjoying themselves at home without them, so make sure this won’t cause further depression.
Decorate Their Room — Who says Santa doesn’t visit the hospital? Make sure to bring some festive cheer into the room for every holiday with special décor, including window decals, stockings, garland, a menorah or even a full Christmas tree. Just make sure to clear any decorations or placement with the hospital staff, as some decorations may be off-limits.
Provide Them with Distractions — Let’s face it: no matter how good your care or how many visitors are in and out, time spent in the hospital can be downright boring. Anything you can do to distract your friend or family member from the monotony of the experience will help them feel supported and loved. Bring movies, books, magazines, video games or crossword puzzle books to help them pass the time. To make it extra festive, set up a DVD player or streaming device so they can watch their favorite holiday movies.
Offer to Help — Often, an offer to help is one of the most comforting gestures for a person in the hospital. The patient may be concerned about their pets, garden or friends, and nothing will stress them out more than knowing these things are not being properly cared for while they’re away. Offer to help them care for the things they can’t while admitted. If your loved one has a pet at home who they are worried about, offer to take them into your home or visit on a regular basis. If this is not possible for you, note that there are some amazing hospital foster programs that will pair the patient’s pet with a loving caregiver while they are in the hospital as well as during recovery.
Bring Their Pet for a Visit — A growing body of research suggests that animals can help patients recover quicker and provide measurable emotional support. That’s why more and more hospitals are letting pets visit their owners during their stay as well as bringing in trained emotional support animals. The reality is that their animal can provide comfort, joy and support better than almost any other treatment, so this is an excellent way to boost the patient’s spirit and make them feel comforted. If possible, bring your loved one’s pet to visit regularly, but especially during the holidays.
Start a Card-Writing Campaign — What could be more fun than receiving lots of handwritten cards from family and friends? Ask everyone in your life to write your loved one a card or letter to help cheer them up. Deliver the cards all at once and help them go through them one by one. Also, make sure to pick up your loved one’s mail so they get their regular delivery of holiday cards.
To prevent cognitive and mental health decline, check in regularly with your hospitalized loved one via phone, text and in-person, especially during the holidays. Visiting, bringing food or sending sweet care packages will help lift their mood and get them into a more festive state of mind. Any of the above tips will help ensure that you show your support in a meaningful, memorable manner.
