Another common way individuals become caregivers occurs following a trauma such as a motor vehicle accident, catastrophic injury, or act of violence. All three types of traumas are unanticipated, emotionally shocking, filled with uncertainty, financially draining, and may have life-altering consequences in one or more areas of the victim’s and caregiver’s life. Therefore, taking on the role of caregiver becomes a physical, mental, and emotional burden to someone who needs recovery time themselves.
Hospital Stays May Be Prolonged
With a trauma event, hospital stays are often prolonged due to the need for physical therapy or rehabilitation afterward. That is not always the case, but muscle or bone injuries are usually involved and require attention, allowing a little more time to prepare for a homecoming. Therefore, you may have more time to prepare the house for the injured person to return home. However, that’s only sometimes true. Sometimes, physical therapy occurs outpatient or at home, so we can’t wait too long to start making discharge plans.
Step 1 Getting Home
Will you have any problems getting home? Does the patient have a cast, brace, mobility equipment, or any other devices that need to come home with them? The hospital case manager should arrange to have it sent home for you. Here’s a word of warning.
- Get a copy of all the details on when it is supposed to arrive, who is delivering it, by when, whether the address is correct, whether there is a phone number, etc. I have often come home to find the equipment left on my porch, but I need someone to show me how to work it. Furthermore, no instructions were left explaining how to work the equipment.
- You need to be home when it’s due to arrive. I recommend using your camera to record what the equipment deliverer shows you because you might forget what they say, and you’ll never get someone on the phone to answer questions later.
- Ensure they turn on the equipment to see if it works before leaving. Often, it does not. Ask them to leave you spare tubing for the set-up in case what they give you has a hole in it.
Step 2: Getting into Your House
Do you have steps into your house or steps to the patient’s bedroom? If so, can the patient make it up the steps? If you still need to, you need a plan to get into the house.
- If you wear leg braces, casts, a wheelchair, etc., the hospital can probably arrange for EMS transport if your insurance pays for it. However, ensure your insurance will pay before they do so you can avoid getting stuck with a $900 transport bill.
- If you must try to take someone in by yourself, sometimes the local fire department will help with a lift and carry a chair to get them into the house.
- You can also put someone on a blanket and have two people lift them into the house step
by step.
- If you frequently need to go in and out, you may also want to consider renting a ramp for long-term use.
- If your bedroom is upstairs, I recommend making sleeping arrangements on the first floor for the duration of time immobility is an issue.
Step 3 Consider How Showers and Toiletings will Occur.
- Hopefully, the only bathrooms are off the second floor. If so, clear out a closet and get a potty chair for the room, hand sanitizer, air freshener, and toilet paper to have a makeshift toilet.
- Unfortunately, other than a hose with hot water running over you in the garage, I don’t have an idea for making a shower. You can make a tub out of a small blow-up pool.
Step 4 Recognize Emotional Trauma Will Likely Be Present
- There may be a need for all-night lighting, television, music, or other means of emotional support.
- Expect fluctuating emotional reactions.
- Let them talk without trying to fix them. They just need to share and know you care. If they want advice, they will ask you.
- Recognize your need for comfort and permit yourself to break down, too.
- Get professional help sooner rather than later if needed.
- If disfigurements or loss has occurred, grief must be allowed too.
- Watch for signs of deep depression.
