when a loved one is in the hospital or nursing home....

Finding something interesting to do is not important just for the visitor, think how bored the patient is! I don't know how mobile your dad is, but if you can even get him in a wheelchair and walk around the grounds, it would really break up the time for both of you. You could also bring some boardgames or cards. Even if your not usually into those types of games, being cooped up will make them more desirable than nothing. If he has a TV in his room, you could bring a DVD player and some movies for him when your not there, too. Even if you can't stay all day, actually doing something with him while you visit will be much better than just staring at each other all day. Hope he feels better soon.

Hi Hon: ) If I was in the hospital and someone was there all the time it would drive me crazy! If I am hurting or not feeling very good I don't want someone there and feel like I had to make conversation. I would love them coming to see me because it shows they love me and are showing compassion. But after about 30 min. I am afraid I would want them to leave so I could just relax. I guess I am kinda selfish wanting to just be left alone when I don't feel well. Just let me know you care and listen to me b**** abut being sick then you can go. LOL Ask what I need to make the time go by, like a good book or say a puzzle to work on. Also I would feel Sooooooo guilty if people felt like there had to be someone there all the time. Now if I was scared about the outcome of my illness it would probably be a different story. Then I might be afraid to be alone. I guess it would depend upon the person and/or the illness how often and how long you should visit. But I see nothing wrong with taking a break every hour or half hour. Get out and walk around, go shopping for a short time or just window shop. Maybe you would have something to talk about to your Dad when you got back. If all the people who visited did was just set there all the time looks like it would get boring for him too. Maybe get a paper and see if there was anything in it you could talk to him about. Hope this helps you out some.

I know how you feel, you want to go visit but it is so boring. I always used to feel so tired coming from seeing my Grandma when she was in one, I was only 15 at the time though. I dont think you have to visit everyday, I know he is your Dad and you feel like you should but I would not if it was me, I would just visit him a few times a week or something. You dont have to sit there all day either, an hour should be plenty, you still have a life to live as well.

Hi Dear, sorry to hear about your dad, and i completely understand how it feels but trust me when you are not well you just want your people to be around you all the time. i guess what you could do is take a good book with you or your laptop so you could chat on mylot.

My grandma was in the hospital/nursing home for ages. We would take turns visiting her for a couple hours a day. BUT she would get played out and want us to leave after about 2 hours - which was fine. We would watch tv with her or play cards. Even just sitting in the room with her and reading a book or knitting made her happy. She just wanted some company. I'd say take up knitting - you can always sell your finished products somewhere like etsy or at craft shows and wool and needles aren't too expensive.

Hello again my friend,I saw this discussion and I had to respond to it,like I did your other one, I know you love your dad,and that you want to be there with him,but it is hard to be there with nothing to do,especially if you are worried about him,and it is a good idea to visit him everyday, even if it is just for a short period,because it should help him recover faster,even though that is just what I think,and I would probably suggest taking a book or a magazine or some other sort of reading material to read ,while you are visiting with him,I will continue to pray for him, and please keep me updated with his condition,and I wish the best for you and your family.

Everyone feels uncomfortable going to visit at a nursing home or a hospital. I can understand you feeling bored. I would say that if he is at least conscious that you can bring in some games for you and him to play or maybe just bring in a book and read it to him, if he is not able to read himself. For him, it is special that his family comes to visit him because I am sure he does not want to be there and he has to stay until he is discharged. Anyway, hang in there, if you can bring in activities for the two of you to do it would make the visit more enjoyable for the both of you. I work in the field so I know how important it is for seniors to have that contact with family, friends or anyone for that matter!

I am very sorry to hear about your dad. I hope he gets well and can come home soon. I always hated to go and sit at a hospital or nursing home too. I just do not do it anymore. I don't have the time for it right now anyway with working seven days per week. I wouldn't mind so much if I could work while I was sitting there waiting. I don't have a laptop though.

dangnabit just a minute thats your dad, the man who fathered you, so just put yourself in his place, think about how he feels and then decide on doing something that you both enjoy, read to him if he likes that, get him in a wheelchair and take him out for awalk aroound the grounds, listen to televsion with him, forget about you for a while and think what he likes to do and do that with him. there is no set time for you to stay. but as an elderlywoman who was in a rebhab for twenty days its so boring for us too, we would much rather be home doing the things we are used to doing instead of in a nursing home. if you two like music bringa player of some sort and some dvds. think what he likes and what you like and compromise.My son wasworking and could only come once every few days, i read a lot and slept a lot and was bored silly. ask your dad for some hints. he is your dad and you know him better than we do.

My grandparents are in and out of hospital and live in a care home at the moment. When they are in hospital my Mam used to visit them daily or every other day and I would visit them once a week. There was no one else to visit them and that is why my Mam did so regularly. Do you have any siblings or does your dad have any siblings or close friends that could visit him and then one person could visit him a day and then you don't have to go as often. Now they are in the care home, my Mam just visits twice a week and I go once a fortnight as they have company from the carers and other old people. If you feel like you have to visit everyday then maybe take something with you to do while you sit and talk to them, I usually take a cross stitch or something. Depending on what is wrong with your Dad then maybe you could take a board game in and play that together that is what I used to do when my Auntie was in hospital.

good day... My uncle was in a hospital several weeks ago. He married late so my nephew is just about 8 years old and his wife works in the morning. I helped out by staying with him in the morning until his wife arrive in the evening. Well, to pass time we talked, sometimes I brought my laptop so I could surf and that's kept me occupied and dumping boredom.

When visiting sick relatives in the hospital you don't have to stay all day.Bring something to read to keep you busy while visiting and forget boring times.watch television they have that pay tv in the hospital . Be friendly with your dad's bed mates that will kill time talking to them..