When a friend or family member ends up in the hospital, it can be hard to know what kind of support they want and need in their time of healing. Unless you’ve been through the same thing, knowing what to say when someone is in the hospital after an accident, preparing for or recovering from surgery can leave wishing you had the right words to express your care and concern.
To help you support your loved one and let them know they are not alone in their journey back to health, we’ve compiled a list of ways you can show your support to those who need it most, including useful gifts, helpful gestures, and tips on what to say to someone having surgery or staying in the hospital.
Give Comforting, Useful Gifts
It can be hard for someone who hasn’t spent much time in a hospital to know What Gifts to Give Chemo and Cancer Patients or what Useful Gift Ideas Someone in the Hospital Will Enjoy. As recurrent hospital patient and HUGGA founder, Yonathan knows, there are several useful gifts that can greatly benefit patients undergoing surgery or recovering from an illness.
For instance, a personal hospital gown makes an incredible gift, not only because it’s an added comfort of knowing no one else has worn the gown but also because the functional, privacy-protecting design makes it more comfortable to wear instead of disposable hospital gowns.
Also along the lines of personal comfort are mid-length hospital robes that can help keep your loved one warm and cozy night or day without tripping them up or dragging on the dirty hospital floor. Paired with their very own ultra-plush hospital grip socks and a fleece beanie hat for cancer patients, they will have a nearly complete ensemble of comfortable hospital wear that any patient would feel much more at home in.
Add in a few of their favorite magazines, book genres, card games, or crossword puzzles, and your loved one will not only be comfortable and warm but engaging in activities that can help them relax and forget about their circumstances for a moment.
Offer To Help With Daily Life Chores & Responsibilities
It’s so easy to say, “let me know if you need anything!” but in reality, how often does someone in need ever really follow through with asking you for help? Instead of saying things like “I’m here for you if you need anything,” let them know you’re going to help out any way you can, whether it be getting the kids to school, doing the grocery shopping, cleaning the house, mowing the lawn, or any other chore or responsibility that needs to be taken care of.
This is also a great opportunity to bring reminders of home back to their hospital room so they can feel connected to their normal life as much as possible. If you really want to make an impact on their mental health and healing, cook their favorite home-cooked meals so they can skip the hospital food for a meal or two. This gesture will go a long way in helping them feel the comforts of home at such a vulnerable time.
Send Comforting Messages of Hope and Healing
When you have a loved one headed to the hospital after an accident or surgery, the last thing you want to do is make them feel uneasy about their future. That’s why knowing what to say when someone is in the hospital or what to say to someone having surgery is so important.
Here are some examples of comforting phrases, thoughtful gestures, and well wishes you can use to show your support. Of course, always use your best judgment when choosing what phrases or questions to ask.
What to Say When Someone is in the Hospital
- “Is this a good time to visit?”
- “Is there anything you need that can make you more comfortable?”
- “What can I take care of at home for you?”
- “How are you feeling today?”
- “I/we can’t wait to have you back to your old shenanigans!”
- I don’t know how you must feel, but know that you can count on me no matter what.”
- It never hurts to be funny or take their mind off of their situation by reminiscing or getting them to laugh.
What to Say To Someone Having Surgery
- “I’ll be right here when you get back!”
- “You’re in the best of hands.”
- “They’re going to take great care of you.”
- “You’re so close to the end of this obstacle!”
- “Just think of how much better things will be once this is over.”
- “You don’t need to worry about a thing.”
- “I’m going to buy you the coolest present when your surgery is over.”
HUGGA: Taking Good Care of Those You Love
No matter what your loved one is going through, HUGGA is here to make their hospital stay as comforting and healing as possible. Visit the HUGGA Blog to discover helpful ideas for making your loved one’s hospital stay a little more like home. Or, shop our Hospital Care Packages purposefully designed to make the road to recovery a little bit easier to travel.
