During a hospital stay an individual will need to keep track of many documents, both old
and new, in order to successfully liaise with hospital personnel including an individuals
most important hospital contact, the discharge planner. The following are important
documents you should have during your hospital stay:

Insurance and/or Medicare card

List of Medications (Gilbert Guide provides a downloadable MedList to
make things easy.)

Names and phone numbers of doctors, relatives, friends or geriatric care
managers

Advanced directives

Folder for new hospital paperwork


TIP: If your loved one cannot express all necessary information to
hospital personnel it may be helpful to provide a face sheet. Click
here for Gilbert Guides downloadable face sheet.

PERSONAL ITEMS
Keep in mind closet space is often limited and every hospital has its own rules regarding
electric and battery-powered devices. Some allow nothing that needs to be plugged in
while others allow for certain electric items. Many hospitals do not allow the use of cell
phones in certain areas which can include patients rooms. Check with your hospital to see what is and is not allowed. The following are ideas of some items you may want to
consider bringing with you to a hospital:


Hearing aids

Glasses or contact lenses along with saline solution and case

Dentures

Canes, walkers or other assistive devices

Mouthwash, toothpaste and toothbrush

Soap and deodorant

Brush and comb

Towel and washcloth

Nail clippers and emery board

Creams or lotion to keep your skin
hydrated along with lip balm

Hair clips

Shaving supplies

Extra pillows or specially designed pillows for aiding in being comfortable while
sitting up in bed

A photograph, favorite plush toy or anything that will make the hospital room
feel less institutional

Bathrobe and sleepwear, such as a nightgown that is easy to get in and out of

Warm socks and slippers with a good grip on the bottom

Undergarments

A warm sweater: cardigans with loose sleeves are best so hospital personnel
only need to roll up sleeves to check blood pressure and so that the sweater can easily
be taken on and off

Snacks such as nuts or fruit (Make sure to check with your physician that your
snacks are ok to be munching on!)

Change and small bills for vending machines

Books and/or magazines

Cards or other forms of entertainment

TIP: Loose sleeves
are best for when hospital
personnel must check your blood
pressure; wraps are good for those
who will need an IV.
If electronic devices are allowed, portable DVD players along with movies or
digital music players, such as an iPod




WHILE YOU ARE GONE


Remember to keep pets food and water bowls full

Ask a trusted friend or neighbor to pick up mail, water any plants and
check that your home is secured


THINGS TO LEAVE AT HOME
Anything with significant monetary value should be left secured at your home or with a
trusted individual:

Jewelry

Large sums of money

Credit cards

Checkbooks


TIP: Bring reading materials or ways to entertain yourself that will
work well when you are feeling ok and have the energy to read an
entire book or plough through multiple Sodukos but also bring fluffy magazines should
you want to just browse through something.
TIP: Warm Up
Hospital gowns can feel drafty which can be pleasant in the summer
months, but can turn downright chilling in the fall and winter. Besides
a cardigan sweater you might also want to consider purchasing a barley pack, which can
be heated in a microwave and placed on shoulders to warm and soothe tired muscles.
Barley packs do give off a slight fragrance of heated grain. Barley packs can also be placed
in a freezer and used as a cooling pack.
Bucky
has a Hotties line of which are pillows,
packs and wraps made from both buckwheat and millet.