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How Seniors & Families Can Prepare for a Hospital Stay or ER Visit

By: Leigh Morgan • Edited by: Erin Wallace • Subject Matter Expert Reviewed by: Brindusa Vanta, MD • 3 cited sources • Updated Oct 14, 2024

Whether it’s a planned admission or a medical emergency, going to the hospital is nerve-wracking enough without having to worry about insurance cards, medical records, and other important documents. It’s also tough to be in an unfamiliar environment without the usual comforts of home.

To reduce stress, it’s important to be well-prepared, especially for seniors with chronic health conditions. This guide offers hospital preparation tips, including a list of items to bring and communication strategies to make the process easier.

Key Takeaways

• Careful planning reduces the stress of a hospital stay and helps you prepare for unexpected ER visits. 
• To avoid unnecessary stress, create a binder with detailed medical information.
• Comfortable clothing, blankets, and personal entertainment devices all make a hospital stay or ER visit more comfortable.
• Have copies of living wills, durable powers of attorney, and other legal documents on hand.

Who Should Prepare for Hospital and ER Visits?

Anyone can benefit from planning ahead for a hospital stay or an ER visit, but advance preparation is especially helpful for people in these three groups.

Family Members of an Aging Loved One

If you have an elderly family member, there’s a good chance they’ll need inpatient or emergency medical care at some point. It’s important to be prepared for these visits, especially if you have power of attorney over your loved one’s medical decisions.

Friends or Family of Someone With a Chronic Illness

Chronic illnesses cause persistent symptoms, increasing the need for medical care. If one of your friends or family members has a chronic illness, you need to take hospital and ER preparation seriously. Even if they don’t need assistance with medical decision-making, you can provide valuable support during a challenging time.

Aging Seniors or Individuals With Mobility Issues or Cognitive Decline

Every senior should have a plan in place, as older adults have a much higher risk of developing chronic health conditions and associated complications that may require a hospital stay or ER visit^[1]. If you have dementia or mobility issues, hospital preparation is even more important.

For example, if you have difficulty walking due to arthritis, you may need to take a walker or wheelchair to the hospital with you. Seniors with dementia should also pack personal items to help them remember important information, or be accompanied by someone who takes on these responsibilities.

What to Bring to the Hospital for a Stress-Free and Comfortable Stay

It’s natural to feel anxious about going to a hospital or an emergency room. However, planning ahead restores a person’s sense of control. Find out what to bring to the hospital, including important medical documents, comfortable clothing, and medical devices.

Medical Information and Documentation

Doctors, nurses, and other healthcare professionals need information about a patient’s medical history, allergies, and living environment. In an emergency, seconds count, so make sure you have the following information available:

• Medical history, including a list of previous surgical procedures
• Health insurance card(s)
• Contact information for each healthcare provider
• Medication list
• Emergency contact information for a family member or friend
• A driver’s license or other form of identification

Keep this information organized and easily accessible so you don’t have to waste precious time searching for paperwork or writing down the names of medications.

Advance Directives and Legal Documents

A living will contains instructions for doctors and other healthcare providers^[2]. If you can’t communicate during a hospital stay or an ER visit, the document helps staff members make decisions about your care. For example, if you don’t want to be placed on a ventilator to assist with your breathing, you can document your wishes in a living will.

Be specific about the therapies or interventions you do not want in your living will. Learn about alternatives you may be comfortable with before writing it. For example, you may refuse mechanical ventilation because it is invasive and carries many complications but be ok with noninvasive options like BiPAP if it’s suitable for your condition.

Brindusa Vanta, MD,

It’s also helpful to have an attorney draw up a medical power of attorney (POA). A medical POA designates an agent to make medical decisions on your behalf. It goes into effect only if you’re incapacitated or unable to communicate your wishes.

Both documents are examples of advance healthcare directives. It’s important to take advance directives to every hospital or emergency room visit, as they help ensure family members and healthcare providers respect a senior’s wishes.

If your loved one has any end-of-life planning documents, such as a last will and testament, bring a copy to the hospital.

Personal Items and Comfortable Clothing

Hospitals aren’t the most comfortable places, so it’s important to bring the following:

• Comfortable clothing
• Glasses or contact lenses
• Toiletries (shampoo, deodorant, toothpaste, mouthwash)
• Slippers
• Reading materials
• Personal entertainment devices (tablet, laptop, earbuds)
• Cell phone and charger

These items provide a sense of comfort and familiarity during a senior hospital visit. 

Download your loved one’s favorite songs onto a tablet and encourage them to listen to them during their hospital stay. Research studies suggest that music has several therapeutic benefits, including improving mood, aiding recovery in the case of a stroke, and alleviating acute and chronic pain. It’s a simple yet powerful tool to boost your loved one’s comfort.

Brindusa Vanta, MD

Medical Devices and Medications

It’s also important to bring medical devices, medications, and mobility aids. Continuous glucose monitors (CGMs), hearing aids, nebulizers, and continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) machines are examples of medical devices used to help older adults maintain their health. Canes, walkers, and wheelchairs are some of the most common mobility aids.

When packing medications, leave them in their original bottles or blister packs. Although it’s important to bring medications with you, don’t take any of them unless your provider approves it. Make sure you let a nurse know if you take your own medication ^[3]. 

To prevent items from being misplaced, label each one clearly with the owner’s name and telephone number.

Additional Considerations

It’s important to think about the logistics of a hospital stay. For example, a senior who just had hip surgery won’t be able to drive for some time, so you’ll need to arrange transportation. If you can’t give them a ride, ask another family member or contact a medical transportation service.

You may also benefit from creating a visitation schedule ahead of time. Having a schedule ensures your loved one always has somebody nearby. It can also help you avoid violating hospital rules.

Finally, make sure you have a contingency plan in place in the event of an extended hospital stay. If your loved one has pets, arrange for boarding or ask a neighbor to care for them. Have another person water their plants, pick up the mail, bring in packages, and take care of other household tasks.

How Seniors and Families Can Prepare for an ER Visit

ER preparation is a bit different from general hospital preparation. When you schedule a surgical procedure, you know exactly when it’s going to take place. You never know when you or a loved one will need emergency medical care, so you need to plan ahead.

The Importance of Quick Access to Medical Information

Create a binder with your loved one’s medical information, including their medical history, a list of current medications, and a list of allergies. During a medical emergency, you may not be able to access your loved one’s wallet quickly, so include a copy of their health insurance card. Present this information to ER staff as soon as you arrive.

A List of Emergency Contacts and Healthcare Providers

In an emergency, hospital staff may need additional information to help them understand your loved one’s condition, such as any underlying illnesses or circumstances that may have brought your loved one to the hospital. You can’t be near the telephone 24-7, so create a list of family members, friends, and healthcare professionals who are familiar with your loved one’s medical history. Make sure these contacts can answer quickly in the event of an emergency.

Items to Bring to the ER

You may have to spend several hours in the waiting room, so set aside some personal comfort items to make the experience a little less stressful. If you plan to watch videos on your cell phone or tablet, pack a pair of earbuds to avoid disturbing other families. Bring a large-print novel or a puzzle book to help your loved one pass the time.

The waiting room may be a little chilly, so bring a blanket or sweatshirt. If your loved one has to stay overnight, they’ll also need a comfortable change of clothes.

Limit Stress by Planning Ahead

Going to the hospital isn’t fun, but it’s a little less stressful when you plan ahead. It’s also important to communicate openly with your loved one and make sure they have plenty of emotional support. 

Written by Leigh Morgan

Leigh Morris has 15 years of experience developing high-converting content for the Web. She enjoys writing about health, law, finance, marketing and careers. Hope has a bachelor's degree in business administration (human resource management) and a master's degree in management and leadership.

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Edited by Erin Wallace

Erin Wallace is an elementary school teacher and part-time freelance writer. She writes primarily on lifestyle topics, including the mental health space. Erin is also an avid reader and currently writing a book of her own. She loves baseball and lives in Massachusetts with her family.

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Subject Matter Expert Brindusa Vanta, MD

Dr. Brindusa Vanta is a healthcare professional, researcher, and medical subject matter expert . She earned her MD degree from "Iuliu Hatieganu" University of Medicine, Romania. She has a special interest in mental health and has collaborated with psychologists and other mental health practitioners on various research projects focused on therapies to manage depression, age-related cognitive decline, trauma and stressor- related conditions.