Be a Better Patient

During my long stay in the hospital I had a mini epiphany, I realized that the best thing I could do to help the caregivers and myself, was to try and be a less demanding patient.

Once this realization happened, I made up a game. I played it initially as just another way to pass the enormous amount of time I had on my hands. The goal of the game was to count and then limit the frequency of pressing the nurses/tech’s call button.

I played the game even when I was so weak that I couldn’t stand or even sit up without assistance. I began to count my button pushes each day and attempted to beat the prior day’s number by pressing it less. Within weeks, I wouldn’t even know where the call button was for much of each day. As a result, I was getting stronger, more mobile and independent.When I started, the point of the game was to try and become a less demanding patient but, it’s outcome was that it created a stronger and happier patient.

To this day, I have no idea how I was regarded by the nurses and techs. Never the less, I knew that I was becoming a little better patient.

The caregivers jobs are stressful enough without patients, like me, asking for tasks that they can do themselves. I know from experience that it is very easy to get addicted to the call button and the services it provides. When you receive almost instantaneous results of your needs it quickly becomes habitual. My advice is; avoid the habit and you and your caregivers will be happier for it.

Pat