Re What essentials to take to an elderly patient in Hospital

Take yourself. Company and reassurance that all is well at home if he has pet.

I was in hospital 3 times last year and the things that I used every day were wet wipes (water wipes are brilliant) and squash or cordial plus a notepad and pen for when doc came around in morning to make notes of what he said.

When my late uncle was in the north mids recently we took him bottled water , towels , coffee and food . We saw elderly men in the ward who had no relatives and they were saying that they were hungry as well. Sad state of affairs tbh .

Toileteries are always acceptable

Brilliant Eazybee, just a perfect list. No towels or stamps. If the patient is poorly they’ll just need a kind person visiting, talk in or reading to them. Hair brush too.

Don’t take new PJ’s. My dads all “got lost” when he was in hospital.

Toothbrush and paste if the gentleman still has his own teeth, or any of them. Reading glasses? Tissues for cleaning glasses. Underpants. Books if he likes reading. A pair of slip on shoes if he is able to go outside.

My mother wanted to have an eye mask so that she could snooze more easily during the day and if the ward was lit at night. And, as Grandmabatty suggested, ear plugs are also useful.

kittylester

62Granny

If he wears a hearing aid or has false teeth , take a container/ small purse in marked with his name so that he doesn't put them in a tissue and they get thrown away by someone clearing his table. It happened to my DH's aunt they had to pay for a new set of each.
Some

Good advice but better advice is to take the dentures home!

Why take the dentures home?
As a denture wearer myself I would be mortified to be without them in public, that being the case I’d take a denture soaking box to keep them safe overnight and a tube of denture fixative

Not sure if already covered but suggest a set of earphones to go with radio, some ear plugs, sleep mask, spare batteries for radio. And some notelets that can be used as 'thank you' posts.... and the stamps and offer to post things.

If on oxygen a lip salve can help with is dry lips and nose. Water to drink.

Earplugs and a blackout eye mask for night time, it's SO noisy and bright at night.

You shouldn't need to take towels in. I needed wash kit - 2 flannels, soap, deo, shampoo, toothbrush and toothbrush. Best in travel sizes, if possible and in a drawstring bag. Puzzle book &pen, reading book, newspaper or magazine. Bottle of squash. A nice treat to eat. Whatever you take I'm sure it will be gratefully received.

On a recent hospital stay I was so grateful that I had the use of an iPad and earphones. I was able to watch tv, listen to radio and podcasts and read via the kindle app.

Made the time I was there so much more bearable.

Boots sell packs of Hand Wipes that are larger than baby wipes and useful before and after eating and for when a freshen up is needed .

How is he supposed to eat without his dentures????

Underpants

I think a radio is only a good idea if he has earphones for it and will definitely always use them.

Imagine the noise on the ward if there are several patients all listening to different stations.
Horrendous.

The idea of a container for personal items like glasses, denture etc is an excellent one. My watch got thrown into the laundry along with sheets from the bed. Luckily it was a very ordinary Timex which I replaced.

Avene Eau Thermale - spring water spray - v refreshing if hot and bothered anywhere

I would take handcream and give a hand massage. Always nice for an older person and something to do.

Mint teabags, (as I don't drink ordinary tea ) and they didn't have decaff coffee

Batteries for any hearing aids?

My 92 year old husband was not at all happy in hospital about the lack of protein for his breakfast He explained that he had had at least 1 egg daily from before the war
I do not mention bacon as that was not part of the solution
Arrangements were made with the sister for me to be allowed to place hard boiled eggs for him for his breakfast in the ward fridge

Don't take good clothes in. Husband also had his shirt and walking boots in which he was admitted stolen

When I was in hospital I suffered from 'dry mouth' and I was given a tube of Oralieve which is a gel that you put on your tongue and spread it around. It's brilliant. One tube lasts ages