BUDDHA
In compassion lies the world’s true strength.
For the Caregiver Your role as a patient representative.
CAREGIVER... know what condition your loved one is being treated for.
patient’s rights Know your patient’s rights and responsibilities (See page 21). Each family needs to have one representative.
advance directives Know whether or not your loved one has an advance directive and if so, what it specifies (See page 23).
While your loved one is in the hospital, who will speak up for him or her? You can, by being the patient’s advocate—the person who will help the patient work with doctors, nurses and hospital staff. To help your loved one make the best decisions about his or her care and treatment, follow the advice in the Caregiver list at right. While you are making sure that your loved one’s
needs are being met, don’t neglect your own. Caregiving is a stressful and time-consuming job. You may neglect your diet, your normal exercise routine and your sleep needs. You may find that you have little or no time to spend with friends, to relax or to just be by yourself for a while. But downtime is important. Don’t be reluctant to ask for help in caring for your loved one. Take advantage of friends’ offers to help and look into local adult daycare programs. Find out more about how you can ease the stress of caregiving at
www.caregiver.org.
© 2015 PatientPoint®
ask questions If your loved one is too ill or reluctant to ask questions, make a note of his or her concerns and any you may have and don’t be afraid to speak up (See Speak Up! on page 15).
help track medications Your loved one may be pre- scribed medications while in the hospital and may be seen by several doctors. You’ll be given a list of medications at discharge.
what’s next? Will your loved one need home care or care at another facility? Ask to speak with a case manager to find out what your options are.
www.alexianbrothershealth.org 847-843-2000 : 33
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