Special Duties of the Family Members - Tips for a hospitalised patient

Special Duties of the Family Members :

a)        There are numerous factors that play an important role in curing the patient. The care and attention given by the relatives is very important. Along with the treatment love and affection too can have magical effect. This increases the will power of the patient, which gives an inner strength to get cured.

 b)       In the hospital the relatives should arrange regular duty, in staying with the patient day and night and maintain a constant vigil. The patient should never be left alone. If left alone, there could be a possibility of the patient falling off the bed. If necessary a railing could be provided on the bed.

 c)        The patient requires calm and rest and therefore talking loudly near his bed or making noise should not be allowed.

d)       The room should be kept clean.

e)        Too many people should not be allowed to crowd around the patient. This can increase the possibility of the patient catching an infection. Sick relatives who come to meet the patient should be kept away with due regards.

f)         Visitors should not talk about diseases, death or other shocking incidents in the vicinity of the patient. Such talks can lower the will power of the patient. Care should be taken that such people do not go near the patient.

g)        Similarly, discussions about ill experiences related to disease, medicine, doctor or dispensary, superstitious beliefs, etc should not be done in the presence of the patient or relatives. Predictions about the patient’s disease, whether the medicines given to the patient are proper, whether the doctors are good- etc topics should be avoided. Due to this the patient and the relatives can become confused, which can create, a problem in patient’s treatment and health.

h)       It’s most important to change the pattern and manners while visiting the patient and the environment in the hospital should be changed. Things like offering fruits, flowers, books, get well soon cards for the patient can be done to convey well wishes. Cassettes of the patient’s favorite music can be played in a low volume. Prayers for the patient can be done at a holy place or home; the patient can also be convinced to pray.

i)          Prayer has ‘a tremendous strength to cure.Unfortunately, there is not much awareness amongst our people about the practice of medical insurance and on the other hand medical treatment is getting expensive day by day. In a situation where the patient is not insured and financially not in a good condition and requires financial support for the treatment, the doctor’s attention should definitely be drawn towards this. With the doctor’s guidance medicines can be obtained at subsidized^- rates from various social organizations. Many such organizations work in the big cities. The social workers of the hospital can guide the patients at such a time.

j)          Many diseases require special, intensive and expensive treatment like plasma exchange in AIDP, gammaglobulin in AIDP or myasthenia gravis, ventilator support etc. The cost of these therapies may range from Indian Rupees 50,000 to 4 lakhs (400 Thosunds). The doctor might be able to help in providing medicines at concessional rates. Information regarding financial help for the treatment in such cases may also be available from the doctor or medical social worker (MSW).