Everything You Need To Know To Get Through A Hospital Stay

For most of us, needing to spend a few nights in hospital is something that we never want to do. Even
if it is for a minor ailment that can be easily remedied, the thought of spending time in a hospital is still
enough to scare and worry people. And that is usually all because people have many negative
associations with hospitals and illness. They might start to fear the worse when they are told they will
need to be admitted to hospital. That’s not all, though, as there are many stories of people disliking
their time in hospital because of it being uncomfortable or because they have had a bad experience
with their doctors and nurses.

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However, staying in a hospital for more than one night doesn’t have to be such a daunting experience.
As long as you prepare well and are aware of what to expect, then you should find that staying in hospital
isn’t half as bad as what you might think.

To help you prepare for your time there and to ensure that you look after yourself as well as can be
while you are in hospital, I thought it would be wise writing up this ultimate guide to staying in hospital.
It’s full of some really useful tips that will help you recover as quickly as possible and stay comfortable
while on the ward.

If You Don’t Like Your Doctor, Ask For A Different One

One of the main people who you will be dealing with while in the hospital will be your doctor. He or she
will be your main point of call for all things health related, and they will help you throughout each stage
of your recovery. Unfortunately, though, not everyone always gets on with their doctor as well as they
should. For some people, this can be one reason why they don’t enjoy their hospital stay. In some
extreme cases, it can even cause friction, and might result in the patient wanting to check themselves
out of hospital before they are 100% ready to leave. Thankfully, though, you don’t need to put up with
a doctor who you don’t like or get on with. If you would rather change and see someone else, it’s
perfectly acceptable for you to ask about it. This actually happens a lot more than what you might think.
At the end of the day, though, it’s in the hospital’s best interest to change doctors if a patient requests
it as it will prevent them from getting bad reviews online.

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Always Eat Something

When you are in hospital, you will need to eat as much as you can so that your body has enough
energy for the recovery process. Unfortunately, though, hospitals have got quite a bad reputation for
their food over the past few decades. That’s no excuse not to eat something, though. It’s really important
that you keep your strength up with plenty of food. Thankfully, most hospitals are aware of the problem
with their food and are currently trying hard to improve the quality and portion sizes. So, you might
actually be very impressed by the standard of food on your ward.

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Don’t Take In Your Own Food

Some people prefer to take their own food into hospital with them as they think that it will be tastier than
what they are given as part of their hospital meals. However, this actually isn’t a very good idea. That’s
because all of the meals that you are served in hospital will have been carefully planned out to ensure
that your body is provided with all the necessary nutrients it needs to heal and recover in full. Not only
that, though, but hospital meals are usually carefully controlled so that the portions aren’t too calorific.
If you take in your own food to eat, you might not get all the right nutrients to aid your illness, and you
might also end up consuming too many calories and putting on weight.

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Get To Know Your Nurses

As well as your doctor, you will come into contact with a lot of nurses during your time in hospital. In
some cases, you might even end up spending more time with nurses than your doctor. So, it’s always
important to be polite and friendly with them. That way, you will all get along a lot better, and that will
make your hospital stay a little bit easier. After all, it’s always best to be friendly with your nurse and
have a laugh with them rather than being stone-faced.

Bring Your Own Pillow

Even though I’ve already mentioned that you shouldn’t take your own food with you into hospital, there
is actually one thing that you should consider taking with you - and that is your pillow! You will need to
get as much sleep as you can every night you are in hospital, as this will help you recover and regain
your strength. If you don’t feel particularly comfortable on the pillow on your hospital bed, then you could
have real trouble trying to drop off every night. So, it’s always worth taking a pillow in with you that you
are familiar with and that can help you sleep peacefully every night.

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Don’t Forget Your Own Toiletries

It’s also wise to take in your own toiletries with you. Sure, staying in a hospital is just like staying in a
hotel as you will be given some free toiletries, such as toothbrush and shampoo. But it’s always best to
try in your own. In fact, hospital toiletries often get complained about quite a bit. Lotions and moisturizers
can often seem watery and tissues and the toilet paper are never the softest. So, be sure to take any
bathroom necessities with you so that you don’t have to worry about them during your stay.

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Keep A Record Of Every Conversation

There are often a lot of compensation cases filed with regard to staying in hospitals.
Unique wrongful death cases and malpractice cases are some of the most common ones.
Hopefully, you will never need to claim for any of this kind of compensation, but it’s still wise
to keep good records of your time in hospital just in case. At the very least, you should make
a note of each conversation that you have with a nurse or doctor as these can be then used as
evidence if you ever do need to go to court over your stay in hospital.

Don’t Be Afraid To Ask For Anything You Need

You never know what you might need while you are in hospital. No matter what it is, though, you
shouldn’t feel bad about asking to see if your doctors or nurses will be able to get you it. One thing
that some people regularly ask for is a rollaway bed so that a family member can stay with them
overnight. More often than not, practical requests like this one will be granted. Keep in mind that
you won’t get something if you don’t ask about it, so it’s always worth asking to see what you can
get. After all, the worst that can happen is that someone will say no.

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Get Out Of Bed As Often As You Can

Even though you might not feel like it, it’s important to get out of bed as often as you can and move
about as much as possible. This is important as it will help your muscles keep working and strengthen
up appropriately. If you do just stay in bed all the time, then you might find that your muscles actually
weaken, and this could even slow down your overall recovery period. So, be sure to get out of bed as
often as you can. Even if you just go for a short walk around your ward or to the hospital cafe, it is
better than not using your legs at all!

Ask To Sleep Undisturbed

Depending on your illness or ailment, the nurses might need to wake you up a few times
through the night to check your vital signs are all OK. As you can probably tell, this will be really
disruptive to your sleep and can leave you very tired during the day. However, if you feel fine
then you might be able to request to sleep undisturbed through the nights. Your doctors will have
to check you out first before they allow this to make sure that you aren’t in any danger when left
though the night.

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Ask To See A Therapy Animal

Did you know that most hospitals now use therapy animals to cheer up their patients? Lots of research
and studies have shown that using animals in hospitals can help patients de-stress and deal better with
their anxieties. You might be amazed by just how much you can relax while you are petting a cute dog!

Hopefully, all of these tips can help you survive your hospital stay as comfortably as you possibly can.
And that should help you recover as quickly as possible!

Handling a Moody, Sassy and Uncooperative Teen Without Causing a Rift

Every parent dreads the day that their sweet, innocent, little angel turns into a grumpy teenager. We
were all teenagers once but nowadays it seems like there are a lot more avenues of trouble they can
get themselves into. The stress of parenting can sometimes get you down and there is an added
stress when your teen is going off the rails a little bit. No matter what your style of parenting is, there
will always be a calm and rational way to deal with those lovable rogues you call your teenagers. As
long as you give them space, allow them to be independent and show them how to learn from their
mistakes, they will soon be on your side again. Take these ideas on board and see how they work for
your little one when the time comes.

Don’t Be Afraid to Educate Them

If you think there is a chance that your teenager is going off the rails and making bad decisions, then you
shouldn’t be afraid to teach them right from wrong. Crossroads Recovery's Underage Drinking Counseling Services,
might help you if your child has been caught up in alcohol related incidents. This will give them the ideal opportunity
to reevaluate their decisions and make better choices when it comes to alcohol in the future.

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Give Them Space and Put Your Trust in Them

Your instinct will always be to protect your child and stick to their side as often as possible. This can
often have the opposite effect, because they will feel like you are smothering them and being too
overbearing. Give them enough space to be independent without allowing them to cross too many
boundaries. Once they realize you can trust them, they will feel more inclined to stay true to their
word, so they don’t disappoint you.

Assess Any Serious Warning Signs

When your child is behaving strangely or isolating themselves on a regular basis; perhaps they aren’t
eating or you see they spend too much time on social media. You need to assess they serious warning
signs and have a serious conversation with them. This could just save their lives.

Reason With Them and Draw on Your Past Experiences

Handling difficult teenagers is enough to make any parent lose control now and again, but try to remain
calm. They are mini adults and able to understand most things. Explain what mistakes you may have
made in the past and it may encourage them to steer clear from the same type of trouble.

When your child reaches their teen years it is important to remember that we all went through this at
one stage in our lives. You made mistakes, you were sassy to your parents and you wanted to earn
your independence. You have to make sure you talk to your child and understand what their issues
are; most of the time they are going through totally normal teenage stuff. Be aware of the more serious
signs and you will soon be able to nip any problems in the bud instantly, giving you a happy, healthy
and pleasant relationship with your teenager.

4 Ways To Take The Stress Out Of Parenting

Parenting can feel like an uphill struggle at the best of times. Although it is one of the most rewarding roles to take on in life, that isn’t to say that sometimes it can become stressful if not managed effectively. You can lighten the load by taking the stress out of parenting, and read below for ideas on how to get started.

Don’t Juggle Too Much

One way to easily burn out and find parenting stressful is by juggling too much. You may want to do it all, and by attempting to do it all you will find you only end up struggling to get anything done. Do one thing at a time, and focus on one task at a time. Learning the ropes and prioritizing is all part of the job of parenting, and through trial and error, you’ll find a routine that works for you. That being said, it’s also important to be realistic; set out enough time if you know that teatime and bath time will take a certain amount of time, for instance, otherwise you’ll find yourself struggling to get your children to bed when they need it. The morning is a particularly important time to work out, so try and get a realistic routine in place, which you will only be thanking yourself further down the line.

Take Some Time Out

Taking some time out for yourself to mentally reboot is not a bad thing. If anything, your family will benefit from it as you’ll be back to your best self after having some time to let go of any stresses and strains you’ve been holding onto. This can be as simple as having a long hot bath, going for a run twice a week, or booking a massage. The mental and physical benefits on our mental health of having me-time have been proven time and time again, so counter this into your schedule pronto. Visit heavenandearthmassage.co.uk to get an idea of some of the massages and treatments available.

Get Enough Sleep

Getting enough sleep is absolutely essential if you want to be able to manage the day to day roller coaster of parenting. You want to be able to enjoy your time with your children to cherish all the special moments, and you’ll find you naturally have more energy and manage tasks better. Sleep deprivation is a common problem with new parents, but you can find tips online to help pull you through and get back on track.

Ask For Help

You are not failing if you occasionally ask for a helping hand to manage all your commitments. If you are running a household, or have a job, and are having to manage other responsibilities, realize that asking for help is okay. You could work with the other parents at school to help with drop offs and pick ups, or maybe give yourself an evening off and ask your parents or in-laws to watch the children. Accepting help from your network of friends and loved ones can help you mentally reset and take some time, so you don’t exhaust yourself. 

How Influencers Help Businesses Retain and Gain

In marketing, trust is key. Without it, it is hard to develop brand loyalty. Businesses that are not trusted can come up with exceptional service or products, but still stay stagnant because there will be customer churn from time to time. For you to succeed in your business and minimize customer churn, you need to get to your customers in a way that will build long-term relations and inspire trust.

One of the best ways you can market your brand and retain customers is using other consumers to gain the trust of your consumer target market. People will be more likely to buy products when the people they admire say that they have had a good experience with the company’s product or service. This form of marketing is called influencer marketing. This form of marketing provides incentives to consumers to share the company’s information on behalf of the business.

Because influencers are consumers, your target market is likely to find the information more trustworthy. Influencer marketing can help you to grow your business and retain more customers in the following ways:

Improves your social media presence

To have effective marketing, you need to get to customers where they are. The fact is that you will find 81% of the U.S consumers on social media. When you establish a social media presence, you will have a better platform for being successful in modern marketing.

In most cases, many businesses have social media accounts, but they post content to reach their audiences. There are those who pay for sponsored ads, and they get their word out. But when you use an influencer to propagate your business information with details of your social media links, you will open the door for the vast network that an influencer has to learn more about your business and connect with your brand. Check out some ways for how to grow Instagram followers.

Builds customer loyalty

There are different ways in which you can engage with influencer marketing; there are companies that pay influencers directly in different markets; others offer incentives like freebies, discounts, or tickets to concerts for people who share marketing information on their social media, or through email, or in person.

Due to the nature of incentivizing influencers, companies reap a two-fold rise in customer loyalty. Influencers who have earned commissions, won prizes or been positively affected because of their experience with the product or service, tend to be more loyal to the brands they market. On the same spin, new customers who jump on the bandwagon to use the company's products through influencer marketing trust the influencer and this stretches to the brand. This will increase the likelihood that they will remain loyal once they are satisfied with the brand.

Expands your reach

An influencer is someone who is socially active and has many connections. Ideally, influencer marketing is done online, and this requires an influencer who has a large following on social media. An influencer’s reach may depend on the demography of social media networks they have.

Since personal relationships are what influencers use to develop their social media networks, or by sharing similar interests with others, they have an easier time to reach users than a business. For example, most businesses only have a few likes or friends on social media, because users are there to socialize and not make purchases. Now, this makes influencers have a broader reach which businesses use to tap to attract consumers.

Identifies relevant leads and markets

Influencers have connections because of shared interests and personal relationships. Moms, for instance, tend to have their own network on social media. As a result, influencers build niche markets. When you want to use influencer marketing, you can reach a specific niche, and this will generate leads.

Author Bio: Adrian Rubin is a freelance writer and climate change advocate.

How to Make Your Home More Family Friendly

Your home is the center of family life, which is why you must ensure it is safe, functional and comfortable for your growing kids each day. While every family dynamic is different, there are some alterations that are a must in every home.

Whether you are set to move into a new home, or you simply want to make some simple tweaks to create a more practical space for your children, take the time to read the below advice on how to make your home more family friendly.

Protect Your Property Every Day

Nothing will be more important than the health and safety of your children, which is why you must aim to protect your property at all times. For example, you should install a burglar alarm to not only deter trespassers but to notify both you and the police if an intruder enters your home. You could also install outdoor lighting, which could prevent trespassers from stepping onto your property.

Create a Fun Playroom

If you want to provide your children with a space to play together in harmony, you should create a fun playroom for your kids. For example, you could covert a spare room, basement or attic into a fun space they can call their own. Fill it with craft items, comfortable bean bag chairs, a TV, desks, toys, and books, which will encourage them to have fun, learn, and create memories together.

Update Your Old Radiators

It is important to warm up your home to protect your family’s health, especially during winter. If your radiators are failing to produce enough heat, or you don’t have many located throughout your home, it might be worthwhile investing in stylish, efficient column radiators, which can effectively heat up your home. So, when the cold season strikes, you will be able to keep your family nice and warm.

Buy Flexible Shelving

Mess and clutter can quickly creep up on you when raising children. Shelving could, however, be the perfect solution to a problem, as it can ensure every item in the home has a place. For example, a bookcase will provide plenty of space to store your kids’ books, trophies, toys, and proud possessions. While living room shelving can keep heavy, sharp decorative items out of your kids’ reach.

Pick Durable Materials

If you want your furniture to stand the test of time, you would be smart to pick durable materials that can withstand everyday family life. For example, a leather sofa, thick drapes and dark fabrics are the perfect choices when raising children.

Find Double Duty Furniture Solutions

Add space and function to your home by finding double duty furniture solutions. For example, you could buy a beautiful dresser that could also be used as a changing table, or you could buy a luxurious dinner table that can convert into a fun pool table the kids and your other half will love. It will create a more practical, family-friendly home, which will reduce clutter and add floor space.