Before going into hospital make sure that you have made the necessary
arrangements at home to cover your absence such as cancelling the milk, papers
or any scheduled appointments, arranging for someone to feed animals and
ensuring that neighbours know you are away and who to contact if necessary.
Eating and drinking
Eating well in hospital is important in aiding recovery, fighting infection
and maintaining healthy bowel and bladder function, so if you have any special
dietary requirements (thickened or puréed food, for example) make sure that you
discuss these in advance or at the time of admission. You can also ask if there
is a hospital dietician who can suggest ways of accommodating your needs.
Hospital meal schedules may not always suit your usual routine so if you
like to have small but frequent meals, make sure you take plenty of snacks with
you and ask visitors to bring you fresh, appetising snacks when they visit.
Remember to bring any special equipment you use for eating – special
cutlery, non-slip mat, non-spill cups etc – and make staff aware of any help you
will need in order to eat, for example if you experience on-off fluctuations.
Bowel and bladder
You may be anxious about using the toilet in hospital, particularly if you
have specially adapted facilities such as a raised toilet or grab rails at
home. Try not to feel embarrassed to discuss this with hospital staff either
before or on admission, and if mobility is difficult make sure staff know that
you could need help. Also make them aware if you experience urinary urgency or
constipation.
Mobility
Let staff know if mobility is difficult, particularly if you experience
‘on/off’ periods, and they might be able to put you in a bed close to the
bathroom. Similarly, if you find it difficult to negotiate furniture or
experience freezing when walking on different surfaces, ask for a bed which is
in an open or less cluttered area.
You can also ask if there is a psychotherapist in the hospital who can
advise on staying mobile during your stay. An occupational therapist may also
be able to offer advice on specialist equipment or strategies for washing,
dressing and eating whilst in unfamiliar surroundings.
Equipment
If you use particular equipment at home check in advance with the hospital
whether you are permitted to bring this in with you. In some cases they can advise
against this for insurance or practical purposes, but if you can take equipment
with you, make sure that it is clearly labelled and covered by your own
insurance in the event of loss or damage.
The hospital may also have additional items of equipment that can help you
during your stay. Usually they will be offered by a trained specialist, such as
a physiotherapist or an occupational therapist, and they will also explain how
to use any apparatus they recommend. Even if you do not use special equipment
at home it can be helpful when in unfamiliar surroundings and it can also be a
good opportunity to test things out!
Communication
If you experience difficulty in communicating it is important that staff are
aware of this. They might not realise that Parkinson’s can give rise to a soft
voice or lack of facial expression for example, so let them know that you
sometimes need more time and patience in understanding and being understood.
Also, tell them that your ability to communicate can fluctuate during the day.
Perhaps they will be able to pick a particular time of day that is better for
you to talk, and book any appointments with therapists or specialists
accordingly.
Make sure that you know how to use the bell or buzzer at your bed in order
to call staff when needed, ensuring that it is near enough to reach even if you
are ‘off’.
If you use any communication aids at home bring these with you and if you
experience problems ask to see a hospital speech and language therapist as they
may be able to help.
Sleep
Do your best to stick to your usual sleep pattern, letting staff know what
this is, as well as anything else that will help you rest properly, such as:
whether you require help turning in bed, need to go to the toilet frequently
during the night, or like to sleep in a particular position.
