What Should a Caregiver Bring to the Hospital?

Start With the Information That Is Hard to Remember Under Stress

You may know someone's medical history well.

That does not mean you will remember every detail at 2:00 in the morning in an emergency department.

If possible, have access to:

• Full legal name
• Date of birth
• Home address
• Primary care physician
• Important specialists
• Preferred pharmacy
• Emergency contacts
• Health insurance information
• Known allergies
• Major medical conditions
• Recent surgeries or hospitalizations
• Relevant medical devices
• Important communication or accessibility needs

You do not necessarily need a giant binder for every hospital visit.

You need the information most likely to be difficult to reconstruct when you are tired, worried, or answering questions quickly.

Bring an Accurate Medication List

One of the most useful things a caregiver can bring is an up-to-date medication list.

Include, when known:

• Medication name
• Strength or dose
• How often it is taken
• When it is usually taken
• Why it is taken, if known
• Prescription medications
• Over-the-counter medications
• Vitamins
• Supplements

Also note:

• Medication allergies
• Previous significant medication reactions
• Recent medication changes

If you are unsure whether the hospital wants actual medication containers brought in, ask the hospital or healthcare team.

Do not give medications from home during a hospital stay unless the treating healthcare team specifically instructs you to do so.

Know What Is Normal for the Person You Care For

This is information a medical chart may not fully capture.

You may know:

• How they normally communicate
• Their usual level of alertness
• How they normally walk
• Whether they normally use a cane, walker, hearing aid, or glasses
• Their usual appetite
• Their normal memory and behavior
• Their typical sleep pattern
• Whether they normally need help with dressing, bathing, eating, or toileting

If something is different from normal, say so.

For example:

"She has memory problems, but this level of confusion is new."

or:

"He uses a walker, but normally he can get to the bathroom without this much help."

That context can be useful to the healthcare team.

Bring Insurance and Identification Information

When available and appropriate, bring or have access to:

• Photo identification
• Health insurance card
• Prescription insurance information
• Medicare or other coverage information, if applicable

A secure digital copy may sometimes be useful if the physical card is unavailable.

Protect personal information carefully and only share it when appropriate.

Bring Relevant Legal or Healthcare Documents If They Exist

Depending on the situation, it may be useful to have access to documents such as:

• Advance directive
• Medical power of attorney or healthcare proxy documentation
• Do-not-resuscitate documentation, if applicable and valid
• Guardianship documentation, if applicable
• Other healthcare decision-making documents

The names and legal effect of these documents vary by jurisdiction.

Having a document does not automatically mean it applies in every situation.

If you are unsure about legal authority or healthcare decision-making rights, ask the healthcare team and consult an appropriately qualified professional when needed.

Bring Hearing Aids, Glasses, and Communication Tools

A person may appear more confused or disconnected simply because they cannot hear or see what is happening.

When appropriate, bring:

• Glasses
• Hearing aids
• Hearing aid batteries or charger
• Dentures and appropriate container
• Communication devices
• Communication boards
• Translation or accessibility information
• Phone charger

Label personal items when possible.

Hospitals can be busy environments, and small personal items can be misplaced.

Keep a Simple Timeline of What Happened

When something changes quickly, write down what happened.

For example:

• When symptoms started
• What the symptoms were
• Whether they changed
• Recent falls
• Recent medication changes
• Recent procedures
• Recent infections or illnesses
• Changes in eating or drinking
• Changes in behavior or alertness
• Who advised you to seek care

You do not need to interpret what the symptoms mean.

The purpose is to give the healthcare team a clearer timeline.

Keep a Running Question List

Questions appear at inconvenient times.

Write them down when you think of them.

Your list might include:

• What are you evaluating?
• What tests are being ordered?
• What are you watching for?
• What happens next?
• Is the person being admitted?
• What medications are being given?
• Have any regular medications been changed?
• Is there anything the family should be doing?
• Who is the main physician or team responsible for care?
• Who should we ask if we have questions later?

You may not need to ask every question immediately.

Keeping the list prevents important questions from disappearing when the room gets busy.

For additional questions to consider before a hospital discharge, Questions to Ask Before You Leave the Hospital offers guidance on what to clarify before going home.

Write Down Names and Roles

Hospitals involve many people.

You may meet:

• Physicians
• Nurses
• Specialists
• Therapists
• Case managers
• Social workers
• Pharmacists
• Discharge planners
• Technicians

You do not need to remember everyone.

But it can help to note the names and roles of key people involved in decisions or follow-up.

For example:

"Maria, RN, day nurse"

or:

"Dr. Patel, cardiology"

This makes later conversations easier to follow.

Track Important Changes

If the person is admitted, keep simple notes.

You might record:

• Major test results as explained by the care team
• New diagnoses discussed
• Medication changes
• Procedures
• Changes in symptoms
• Mobility changes
• Eating or drinking concerns
• Questions still unanswered
• Discharge discussions
• Follow-up instructions

Do not try to create your own medical chart.

The goal is simply to help yourself remember what was discussed.

Ask Before Recording Conversations

It may seem helpful to record a physician explaining complicated information.

Do not assume recording is permitted.

Hospital policies and recording laws vary.

Ask before recording audio or video.

If recording is not appropriate, take notes or ask whether written instructions or an after-visit summary will be available.

Bring Something for Yourself

Caregivers often prepare for everyone except themselves.

Hospital visits can last much longer than expected.

Consider bringing:

• Phone
• Charger or portable battery
• Water bottle, when permitted
• Small snack, when appropriate
• Sweater or light layer
• Necessary personal medications
• Reading glasses
• Notebook and pen
• Earbuds
• A small amount of cash or payment card

If you take prescription medication yourself, make sure you have what you may need if the visit lasts longer than expected.

Do not neglect your own medical needs because you are supporting someone else.

Have a Family Communication Plan

One caregiver can quickly become the family information center.

Your phone starts filling with:

"What's happening?"

"What did the doctor say?"

"Are they being admitted?"

"Did the scan come back?"

If appropriate, designate one person to provide updates to the rest of the family.

You might use:

• A family group text
• One designated family contact
• A private shared note
• A communication app

Before sharing medical information, consider the patient's wishes and privacy.

If the Person Is Admitted, Your Job May Change

An emergency room visit and an inpatient stay create different needs.

Once admitted, consider asking:

• Who is the primary hospital team?
• Which specialists are involved?
• What is the current plan?
• What needs to happen before discharge?
• Is mobility being evaluated?
• Are medications changing?
• Will new equipment be needed at home?
• Will follow-up appointments need to be scheduled?
• Is a case manager or social worker involved?
• Does the healthcare team anticipate additional help being needed after discharge?

You do not need to solve discharge on the first day.

But understanding what the team is watching can help you prepare.

Before Discharge, Slow Down

Discharge can happen quickly.

Before leaving, make sure you know where the official discharge instructions are and ask questions about anything you do not understand.

Important topics may include:

• Medication changes
• New prescriptions
• Follow-up appointments
• Activity restrictions
• Diet instructions
• Wound or equipment care
• Symptoms to monitor
• Who to call with questions
• When to seek urgent or emergency care
• Home services or equipment
• Pending test results

Do not rely only on memory.

Ask for written instructions when available.

When Professional Help Matters

Hospital decisions should be made with the appropriate healthcare professionals.

Caregivers should not use general educational information to diagnose symptoms, change medications, interpret test results, decide whether emergency care is needed, or override medical instructions.

Questions about legal authority, advance directives, healthcare proxies, guardianship, insurance, benefits, employment leave, or finances may require appropriately qualified professionals.

If you believe someone is experiencing a medical emergency, contact emergency services or the appropriate healthcare professional.

Remember This

Knowing the person's medications, normal behavior, important history, questions, and preferences can be just as valuable as anything you physically pack.

You do not need to remember everything.

You need a reliable way to find it when someone asks.