How to Advocate for an Older Loved One in the ER or Hospital

Picture your 80-year-old father in the intensive care unit needing dialysis or your 76-year-old mother with severe dementia facing emergency surgery. These scenarios are becoming increasingly common as 1 in 6 adults in the U.S. are now over 65, a number steadily rising with the aging baby boomer generation.

And as our population ages, the likelihood of an older family member becoming hospitalized grows. Many of us will inevitably confront the challenges of hospitalization – oftentimes due to a medical emergency when we least expect it.

The critical question is: Are you prepared?

Families often find themselves unprepared for the profound impact illness and injury can have on a loved one. While a patient may have been active and healthy before needing hospitalization, illness in a 75- or 80-year-old is not the same as illness in a 50-year-old. Older patients generally need extra support in the hospital, require longer recoveries after serious illness or injury and are less likely to return to their prior quality of life.

Understanding how to advocate for your loved one in the emergency department or inpatient hospital setting is crucial for ensuring they receive the best possible care.

How to Advocate for an Older Loved One in the ER or Hospital