Hospital Sitter
Maintain contact with family members and report in on how things are going, help be your “eyes and ears” and ensure that medical providers direct questions or information to you if your loved one may not be able to accurately report:
Help relieve family caregivers by taking “shifts” such as staying overnight so you can get some rest while you stay with a loved one during the days and manage their care. This can also be a great help for long-distance caregivers who cannot be present or cannot arrive immediately.
Help oversee safety and ensure fall precautions are maintained. The hospital sitter can help call for further assistance, reassure your loved one when upset or waiting on help and remind the patient about precautionary measures.
Observe changes or concerns and notify family members and medical professionals, which may help more rapidly diagnosis problems such as delirium, medication incidents and infections.
Provide companionship and stimulation and help with “the little things”. A sitter can read to your loved one, do puzzles or other games, chat and reminisce, or even just help work the TV remote to find a program your loved one will enjoy. The companionship can be a great comfort and relieve loneliness and anxiety. Knowing your loved one has the company of the sitter can also help relieve your anxiety and allow you to rest so you can be the best advocate and balance your multiple responsibilities. A hospital sitter can make sure your loved one has on her special robe or massage in some hand lotion, help make a phone call to a grandchild and other “little things” that mean a lot and can help the healing process.
