About Careers MedBlog Contact us
Medindia LOGIN REGISTER
Advertisement

Bring the holidays to you When You’re Hospitalized

by Bidita Debnath on December 24, 2016 at 12:01 AM
Font : A-A+

Bring the holidays to you When You’re Hospitalized

The holidays are a busy time of year spent celebrating with family and friends, decorating the home and participating in religious or spiritual traditions.

But when a patient is hospitalized, normal traditions are stripped away and the inability to celebrate the season can bring on feelings of sadness.

Advertisement


"It's not uncommon for people to have the blues around the holiday season and being in the hospital can really intensify those feelings," says Rev. Karen Schnell, director of the UCLA Health Spiritual Care department.

Schnell suggests that patients who are feeling the doldrums express this to a member of their healthcare team, such as a doctor, nurse, social worker or chaplain.
Advertisement

"They care and they will listen to how you are feeling," says Schnell. Here are some ideas to help celebrate the season while hospitalized:

Bring the holidays to you. Place meaningful objects in your room such as an electric menorah, nativity scene or holiday decorations. Celebrate traditions such as gift-giving with family and friends who can visit you.

Attend hospital services. Many hospitals hold holiday services for patients and family members. If you're unable to attend, ask for a visit from your personal religious leader or a hospital chaplain who can support you in your traditions and practices.

Send a card, letter, email or text to someone you miss. Let them know you are thinking of them and wishing them well. This can enhance your sense of connection with those you love. And, doing something for someone else can help you feel better emotionally and spiritually.

Receive, instead of give. If you are usually a go-getter during the holiday season, give yourself permission to receive this year. Let go of expecting yourself to do everything you usually do during the holidays. After all, you're in the hospital!

And if you're still feeling blue? "You're not alone," adds Schnell. "It's perfectly okay to recognize that it is not a happy time for you."

Source: Newswise
Advertisement

Advertisement
Advertisement

Latest Research News

 Blind People Feel Their Heartbeat Better Than Those With Sight
Brain plasticity following blindness leads to superior ability in sensing signals from the heart, which has implications for bodily awareness and emotional processing.
New Biomarkers Help Detect Alzheimer's Disease Early
A group of scientists were awarded Ł1.3 million to create a new “point of care testing” kit that detects Alzheimer's disease biomarkers.
Bone Health and Dementia: Establishing a Link
Is there a connection between Osteoporosis and dementia? Yes, loss in bone density may be linked to an increased risk of dementia in older age.
Is Telomere Shortening a Sign of Cellular Aging?
Link between chromosome length and biological aging marker discovered. The finding helps explain why people with longer telomeres have a lower dementia risk.
Why Is Integrated Structural Biology Important for Cystic Fibrosis?
Integrated structural biology helps discover how the cystic fibrosis transmembrane conductance regulator (CFTR) works.
View All
This site uses cookies to deliver our services.By using our site, you acknowledge that you have read and understand our Cookie Policy, Privacy Policy, and our Terms of Use  Ok, Got it. Close
×

Bring the holidays to you When You’re Hospitalized Personalised Printable Document (PDF)

Please complete this form and we'll send you a personalised information that is requested

You may use this for your own reference or forward it to your friends.

Please use the information prudently. If you are not a medical doctor please remember to consult your healthcare provider as this information is not a substitute for professional advice.

Name *

Email Address *

Country *

Areas of Interests