My 90 yo mom with moderate dementia needs a pacemaker (her heart rate is down to 30, and although her heart has a good rhythm, it occasionally stops for up to 11 seconds!). I have prevented at least 13 falls (yes, I count them!) but it’s only a matter of time, so she really does need this. She is aware of this and was able to participate in the decision, so I’m OK with doing this. Anyway, she will have to be in overnight and I want to minimize the trauma for her. So far I’ve packed her pull ups, hand and face wipes, disposable toothbrushes (she uses these everyday), a music player with headphones, chargers for all my stuff (I’ll stay with her). Of course all her paperwork (insurance cards, photo ID, med list (and meds just in case), current labs, contact lists, copy of POA and advance directive. Am I missing anything? Thanks in advance.
A neck pillow - those hospital pillows are not the nicest.
They'll probably want her up walking before she leaves, so some nice slippers with grippy soles.
My hospital specifically ask that we don't have anything of value in the room. So I even take that stuff home if they have it on them. Underwear, toothbrushes, etc, etc they have all that stuff at the hospital.
Here's a frugal person's tip. Much of the stuff in her room will be thrown away once she leaves. The boxes of gloves, the extra underwear, the stack of super absorbent pads, the brushes, the socks, the hovermatt. Ask if you can have it. Afterall, you "paid" for it. It's charged to your insurance. Why not take it to use at home instead of filling up a landfill? Once a nurse asked if we wanted to take all this stuff saying it would be thrown away anyways. I said yes. Now I ask every time, if they are just going to throw it away, if we can have it. Every time they say yes. Most times the nurse will even bring big bags and help us bag it all up.
Not when I was there! I had just the over-sized one-size-fits-all PJs and robe they provided for me. When I asked the nurse for help cleaning up, she said she'd be back. Hours later when she returned, I was NOT happy. She told me I could take care of myself! I did get the head nurse in and told her what the nurse said and I asked her if she saw any towels or washcloths, any clean clothing, ANYTHING that would allow me to care for myself. She looked around and said nope. Many days later when that nurse came again, she was rather contrite.
Towards the end of my stay (almost a month of this!) I was surprised and pleased to see a light cotton, purple colored set of PJs and robe left for me! This nurse recognized the issue without me saying a word, and brought me these items from the kid's ward downstairs! They were SO nice, they fit and were lightweight, I didn't need to roll up sleeves, pant legs, bunch everything up to fit or be bogged down by the weight of the typical items!!!
gum.....water, baanana, fresh frfuit. whatever yoy thing you two might enhoy
GN
I agree that your mom needs a pacemaker and the procedure is not difficult or traumatic. She'll have more energy afterwards and will be less likely to fall. You and she have made the decision to go for this procedure. We treat people humanely not because of age, but because of need. Please consider that you will need to find ways to keep her from removing the bandage until the wound heals.