Should you make a “Go Bag” to prepare for unexpected hospital visits?
I recently brought my mother to the emergency room of her local hospital. She had fallen and her leg didn’t seem to be healing well, so she requested I bring her. While the emergency room was fine, we were there for over 3 hours waiting, with no communication from the staff as to how long our visit would be.
This experience in an emergency room is unfortunately not uncommon, especially for elderly patients. Adults over 65 years of age in the US have an increased likelihood of requiring hospitalization. Nearly 17 percent of elderly are hospitalized at least once during the year. And, more than 40 million visits to the emergency room are made by adults age 50 and older per year.
And so, we found ourselves woefully unprepared for a lengthy visit, with nothing to do and nothing to eat or drink. The hospital staff was too busy to help in any way. In fact, I had to insist they let her go to the bathroom! Lesson learned, everyone needs to bring an advocate to the emergency room with them!
However, it made me think that if this may happen again, we should be better prepared. Everyone should have a Go Bag prepared in case of emergencies!
What is a Go Bag?
A hospital Go Bag is a pre-packed bag that has items needed for a day or maybe more of a stay away from home. It is ready to grab and go at a moment’s notice.
You may include toiletries, clothing items, non-perishable goods, etc. Basically anything that you may need to survive while suddenly away from home.
Your Go Bag – What should it include?
After a bit of research, I have put together a list of what to prepare for the hospital.
Things have definitely changed over the years, and you may need high tech items to be comfortable in an emergency room or hospital stay.
Here is a list of items we have decided to pack for my mother, just in case. These were all easily packed in a small duffel bag.
Toiletries
- Toothbrush
- Toothpaste
- Floss
- Deodorant
- Hand/facial wipes
- Dry shampoo
- Hairbrush and comb
- Barrettes, bobby pins
- Hand lotion
- Sanitary napkins and/or incontinence pads
- Nail file
Clothing
- Bra and underwear
- Warm Socks
- Pajamas
- Comfortable clothing – 1 set
- Slippers
Technology
- Phone
- Watch
- Charger
Information
Informational items should be written or printed on paper. In case of emergency, hospital staff will not be able to access your phone contact list. It will be much easier for them to contact your friends and family or understand your medicines if you have a printed sheet all ready to go.
Also, having a notebook and pencil handy it great to write down the hospital staff’s names as they come in and out of your room. It was impossible to track down our doctor, (known only as tall white haired guy.) I wish we had written the names of all our doctors and nurses. Also, as they give you instructions in the hectic environment of the ER, it is so easy to forget what they said. We learned to write it all down in our notebook.
- Patient fact sheet – A patient fact sheet should include all the basic information the hospital will need for patient intake. This information includes:
- Full legal name
- Date of birth
- Address
- Phone number, home and cell
- Employer
- Employer address
- Marital status
- Spouse information
- Emergency contact information
- Insurance information
- Preferred faith information
- Height and Weight
- List of existing conditions and chronic illnesses
- List of current medications
- List of Allergies – including allergies to food and medicines
- List of healthcare providers, including primary care physician and specialists
- List of contacts including family, friends, and religious leader, if appropriate
- List of past surgeries and hospitalizations
- Copy of insurance card
- Copy or driver’s license
- Medicare / Medicaid card
- Blank notebook
- Pencil
- Pen
- An Advance Medical Directive
- Medical power of attourney
- Living will, do-not-resuscitate order if applicable
Entertainment
While everyone relies on their phones these days for entertainment, it is nice to have something to do to interact with others, as the cards. Or a puzzle book or magazine is a nice break from the phone.
- Crossword puzzle book
- Deck of cards
- Magazine
Food
Food and water is hard to come by in an emergency room! And if you are there for hours, it is very important to have a snack. Here are some basic suggestions, but you may wish for more options. Be sure to pick non-perishable items with a long shelf life, so your snack will be good whenever you need it.
- Bottles of water – 2
- Granola bars – 2
- Bag of mixed nuts
- Bag of pretzels
General
A minimum of $40 is good to have packed in your bag ready to go. You never know when you might need a little cash for a vending machine.
- Cash – $40
- Zip lock bag for jewelry
What else should be in your Go Bag?
The above list was what we decided for my mother. You may decide you need more or less prepared to grab at a moment’s notice. Here are some other ideas you may need.
- Spare glasses
- Extra hearing aids
- Dentures and denture cleaner
- Ear plugs
- Sleep mask
- Book
- Bible
- Family photos
Preparing your hospital Go Bag for seniors
I hope this helps you pack a Go Bag to be ready for emergencies. It will help your loved one feel more comfortable and at ease in an emergency hospital setting.