Loneliness in hopitals

I would rather be in a private room .

I am also anti-social and hate visitors and hate being seen in my pyjamas.

Maybe if I was (were?) really sick I wouldn't care.

Lovely of you Jane10 to think of doing this.

Maybe that's just you, notanan? I've been very sick and still found being alone more comfortable. I find having strange people around really alarming, especially when I'm too ill to defend myself - I don't feel safe.

A private room for me too. I guess I'm a bit anti social and happy in my own company. I snore and am a frequent loo user so it is much better for me to be in a private room.
DH is in hospital at the moment but in a shared ward - just two in it. He too is a snorer so has some concern for the other patient. However, his biggest concern is that the other patient has the television on loudly at all hours of the day and night. There is little or no interaction between them and there is often a "situation" with the bathroom.

Shared wards do not always provide the social interaction that some think.

Having your own private room when youre reasonably well is preferable. If youre sick its terrifying to be alone. I have been sick in a side room in hospital and felt terrified. Moved to a ward and felt able to rest because having people around meant the alarm could be raised if I collapsed or stopped breathing etc

When I was last in hospital I was much too ill to be sociable and was very glad of my own room. Once I improved enough to go on a ward I never had a moment's peace until I was discharged; I actually was very glad and relieved to get home to rest.

Give me a private room any day. I'd hate to be next to other people in rows of beds and having to listen to them and their visitors. I'd read, complete crosswords and watch tv and hopefully there would be wifi, so I'd take my laptop with me. My visitors could come whenever too. I certainly wouldn't be lonely as I enjoy my own company. Also, if it was getting near the end of my life I'd want privacy for myself and my family.

As I am not a chatty person the private room would suit me fine and they have a TV in there which helps a lot. My DH would be lost as he loves chatting, if he could get about he would not doubt visit the other patients most of the time! So really it's all down to the individual and their circumstances. Well done Jane10 !

I always prefer to pay for a private room and en suite. I don't usually want to socialise with just any random person. I certainly don't want to share bathrooms either. I value my privacy and peace and quiet. Sorry to say that, if you popped in for a cheery chat, I'd tell you to F* off!

So - you can't say that patients are lonely and unhappy because of the single rooms. We are all different. Many elderly people are well used to spending hours/days/weeks alone at home anyway. I'd be pretty unhappy - just due to being in hospital!

I was told new hospitals have single rooms to stop hospital acquired infection and cross contamination, this is also the reason there are no communal sitting areas.

It is a lovely idea to have a tea party social group but if the no communal idea is happening in your hospital I doubt they would allow it.

I agree Monica, that would be such a better solution x

The problem is both single and larger rooms are needed. When DMiL was in hospital terminally ill, she felt too unwell to read or listen to the radio but loved just lying in bed watching everything that happened on the ward and telling us all about it when we visited.

DD spent 10 days in hospital a few years ago. Most of the time her fellow patients were older women and she got on well with several, but at night they had a lady with dementia who shouted out and got out of bed and walked into other peoples cubicles and stopped her having relaxing sleep.

She was discharged far too early as they needed the bed and she said she didn't care because at least at home she could sleep properly, but it meant us providing 24 hour nursing care for her.

Must say being in hospital is bad enough, single room is a definite No,No for me. Manyyears ago, when I was in hospital following a very bad damaging fall and I was on total bed rest, there was an attempt to move me to a single room so that I could be visited by my young children. I cried my heart out about this, as not being allowed to get out off bed at all, I so needed to stay in the main ward, could see other people and have patients come to sit with me when they passed my bed,. Finally, the staff agreed with me, and left me where I was and I was wheeled into a small room to have visits from my young family,
In hospital last year, the ward was divided into small rooms, each of five or six patients, this seemed to me ideal, as there was always someone to chat to during the day, but not a Nightingale Ward.
Some of these rooms were all male and some all female, none were mixed.

Always worried me on maternity, with wards you could hear if someone was crying or struggling. Not now x

I've been in a private hospital room and hated it. I much prefer a ward where I can see what's going on. Not so keen on mixed wards, though, or don't they exist any more?

I'd also like to be able to provide something for patients to talk about with their visitors. Even if it's just that daft Jane was in and you'll never guess what she said/we did/ the lady next door was saying etc etc. Just a bit of life really. Everything will depend on the individuals concerned. Some people will just want to do the Times crossword, others might want to discuss Corrie.

The problem with the big Nightingale style ward is that they can be upsetting to patients when they see other people suffering or even pass away. By having private rooms, fellow patients can be shielded of the more unpleasant side of hospital life, and not have it clear for all to see and hear right under their noses. It used to be the job of the occupational therapists to provide ward activities and social stimulation on the long stay wards, but with financial cutbacks and extra roles added to this discipline this now.seldom happens,and their.main role now.is.aimed at.assesments for disablility equipment and support for community living.

Jane10, what you're doing is wonderful-

The loneliness factor seemed to persist even when the residents were gathered in groups, while eating together or watching tv- I noticed this at the facility where my mother lived- There were scheduled activities but the residents showed no interest in participating-

If family members didn't come to pick them up for daytrips, they didn't leave the building- They received no sunshine ?

I understand that soon there will be a law requiring facilities to provide exposure to sunlight- Here in the US-

I haven't started yet but hope to be holding some sort of tea party social group if there's a big enough space for one.

Years ago hospitals had TV rooms which served as a communal sitting room too.

It might be lonely but being in a busy ward means no sleep or rest.
Being in award with people you have nothing to say to isn't helpful.
My last stay I was surrounded by zombied and drugged much older people that made me worry for them. It wasn't helpful.
I prefer the privacy and a room people can go to if they want.
Like the old smoking rooms.

I agree Jane10. Being in a single room for hours at a time is maybe not helpful in getting better as social interaction is necessary to welfare and as you say nurses are rushed off their feet and can't stay for a chat.