Nycomomohead wrote:... Any tips for me to help my wife for what is ahead is always appreciated...
1~~ Private room - Request a private room, with a private toilet/shower. This is much better than being assigned to a general ward with shared facilities.
2~~ Amenity kit - Prepare a personal effects "amenity kit" containing basic necessities that the hospital doesn't provide. Ask your wife what she will need, make a checklist of these things, and put all of these things in a separate bag so that everything is ready to be packed, and nothing on the list is missing when she leaves for the hospital. For example, toothpaste, toothbrush, comb, brush, shampoo, shower gel, washcloth/wet-wipes, packet of Kleenex, shower clogs, slippers, etc. You may need to check with the hospital first to see what they do and do not allow to be taken into the rooms. (My hospital did not allow any medications or food to be brought in, for example. All required meds and food had to be provided by the hospital under doctor supervision.)
3~~ Convenience tray - Get a small tray or basket to be kept on the rolling bedside table so that all of the essential items that your wife will need while in bed can be kept in this tray and will be within easy reach without requiring her to make painful movements to access these items. The items to be kept in the tray would be things that she is likely to want to access, day or night, without having to call the nurse to fetch the items from elsewhere in the room. The things to be kept in the tray would depend on your wife's preference, but some possibilities might be: a pencil, a notepad, a cell-phone, a small flashlight or penlight (to see things after the lights have been turned off for the night), a small clock, eyeglasses case, eye mask, ear plugs, hand gel, small bottle of water, remote control for the TV, etc). The purpose of the tray is to have something with low sides that will keep the articles all in one place close at hand and keep the items from rolling off the table or falling on the floor. She might also want a small pillow/cushion to supplement the big pillow provided in the room.
4~~ Call button - The call button for calling the nurse should be placed close at hand and easy for her to reach without straining. It could be taped at eye level on the bed railing or in some other easy-to-reach place. This is so that the call button stays in the same place and she always knows where to find it when she needs it.
5~~ Messenger status - If you are allowed to visit her room during visiting hours, you could take this as an opportunity to go to the nurses station and talk to the head nurse to ask for whatever special assistance your wife may need (e.g., to request a wheelchair or walker for the room, or to negotiate a better meal menu, to make a request, or make a complaint, to ask when the drain tubes are going to be removed, or to ask when the doctor is going to arrive, etc.). Also, you could bring a box of chocolates to the nurse's station for all of the nurses to share.
6~~Tips for Being a Successful Caregiver -
https://www.cancer.net/coping-with-cancer/caring-loved-one/tips-being-successful-caregiver