A Caregiver's Checklist for a Long Hospital Stay

The person who goes with the patient often becomes the person who forgets themselves. Meals are skipped, sleep is broken, and the days blur. A stay of weeks needs a little planning, and the planning is mostly about ordinary things: food, sleep, washing, and not running out of anything at the wrong hour.

This is a practical checklist from a company that provides homes to stay in. It is not medical advice. Follow the hospital’s instructions for the patient, and use this only for the part that is yours.

Why a kitchen changes a long stay

You can survive weeks on restaurant food. It is just expensive, tiring and, for many people, unwelcome after the first few days. A kitchen means you can make tea at 5 am, heat something simple when you get back late, and eat the food you are used to.

It also gives you some control. If the patient has dietary needs, you decide what is cooked and when, according to whatever the hospital or doctor has told you. We do not give dietary advice and cannot say what is right for any patient.

Most of our homes have a kitchen, and each listing shows what the home includes. If cooking matters, ask our team what is in the kitchen before you book.

What to ask the host before you book

Put these questions to our team, or to any host.

The kitchen

• What does it include: a stove, a fridge, a few utensils?
• Is there a place to wash and store things?

Sleep and space

• How many people can sleep in the home? The number of guests you give us is strictly enforced, so include everyone who will stay overnight.
• Is there more than one bedroom, so two attendants can take turns?
• Is the home on a quiet street?

Getting around the home

• Is there a lift, or is it a lower floor? Stairs are harder when you are tired or carrying bags.
• Is there parking, if you will have a car?

The practical things

• Is hot water available when you need it, including early in the morning?
• Is there a washing machine, or how do you get laundry done?
• Is the Wi-Fi reliable? Every listing has Wi-Fi, but ask if you will be on long calls.
• How does check-in work if you arrive in the middle of the night?

None of these are unreasonable questions. A good host will answer them directly, and if a home does not suit, it is better to know before you pay.

A grocery plan for the first day

If you cook, do one proper shop on the first day and keep it simple.

• Staples that keep: rice, atta, dal, oil, salt, tea, sugar.
• Things for the first morning: milk, bread, eggs, fruit.
• Basic cleaning and kitchen items you will need: washing liquid, a sponge, tissue, bin bags.
• Water, if you do not trust the tap, and a bottle to carry to the hospital.

In some areas, such as Saket and Lajpat Nagar, shops are close to the hospital. Around Vasant Kunj, very few are within walking distance, so a first grocery run matters more. Our guide to where to stay near Delhi’s big hospitals says which areas are which.

Look after the caregiver

A few small habits make a long stay easier.

• Take turns. If there are two of you, split the nights so that each gets a proper sleep.
• Eat at set times, even if it is something simple.
• Keep one bag packed for the hospital with a charger, water, documents and a light layer, so that you can leave without thinking.
• Keep your documents together, including your ID, the booking confirmation number and the hospital papers.
• Step outside once a day, even for ten minutes.

Plan the kitchen around the hospital day

A hospital routine rarely follows normal meal times, so the kitchen has to work around you.

• Cook once, eat twice. A pot of dal or khichdi made in the evening is lunch the next day. Keep it simple and easy to reheat.
• Pack a flask. Tea, soup or hot water for the hospital waiting area saves many trips to the canteen.
• Check the fridge before you shop. Ask what size it is, so that you buy the right quantity.
• Ask about the cooking set. Pots, a pan, plates and a cooker vary by home, so ask what is there and bring only what is missing.
• Follow the doctor’s diet advice. If the patient has dietary rules, those come first. We cannot advise on food for any condition.
• Keep the kitchen clean as you go. Over a long stay, small mess grows, and a tidy kitchen makes the home restful.

Our guide to staying near AIIMS and Safdarjung covers the hospital end: the hospital’s own arrangements, measured distances and what to look for in a home.

Money and dates

Long stays have a price benefit with us. Stays of 7 to 13 nights get 10% off the nightly rate, and stays of 14 nights or more get 15% off, on every home today. We add a 14% service fee, shown as its own line, and the full total is shown before you pay. Our guide to how pricing works explains each line. We do not collect cash at the property.

Dates are the part to be careful with. Treatment plans change. Changing dates counts as cancelling the original booking and booking again, under that home’s cancellation tier, so contact us before you change anything. Whether the home is free for different nights depends on its calendar.

What you need at check-in

Every guest shows valid government photo ID, such as Aadhaar, a driving licence, a voter ID or a passport. The person who books must be 18 or over and must stay for the whole booking.

If you want us to look

Message our team on WhatsApp with the hospital, your dates and how many of you there are. We will suggest homes, and say honestly if we do not have one that suits. You can also see stays near hospitals in South Delhi.

Edens Home is not connected to any hospital and does not give medical advice. We wish you and your family well.