Having familiar things around in the room can be very comforting and helps the staff get to know you and the patient better. Even more importantly, it helps them personalize care for your family in a variety of ways; including understanding your relative’s likes and dislikes and helping find motivation for rehabilitation activities.
Tips for Personalizing the Room:
- Bring in personal items from home such as pictures, a favorite blanket, pillow, or stuffed animal
- Decorate with cards, letters, and artwork from family and friends
- Create a poster board all about the patient and display it in the room. You could include photos of them before their illness as well as information about them such as:
- Important people in their lives
- Music preferences
- Pets
- TV show preferences
- Things that cheer them up
- Things that help them relax
- How they spend their free time (i.e., hobbies, work)
- Amazon: Pre-cut Poster Board Shapes
- Create a relaxing atmosphere by dimming the lights, adjusting the temperature to the patient’s preference, and bringing in soft lighting or using natural light
- Encourage virtual visits. You can use technology on your phone or computer to facilitate virtual visits with family and friends who may not be able to be at the bedside. It’s okay if the patient isn’t able to interact. Hearing familiar voices can be very comforting.