Center for the Study of Traumatic Stress
CSTS | Department of Psychiatry | Uniformed Services University | 4301 Jones Bridge Road, Bethesda, MD 20814-4799 | www.CSTSonline.org

When Family Members are
Hospitalized due to COVID-19
As the number of COVID-19
cases rises, hospitalizations
will also increase. These
hospitalizations can be extremely
challenging not only for patients,
but also for families who mightexperience distress due touncertainty about a loved one’s
recovery, and also due to personalrisk of contracting the disease.
Additionally, family members
may not be permitted to visit

These hospitalizations can be extremely
challenging not only for patients, but also forfamilies who might experience distress due touncertainty about a loved one’s recovery,and also due to personal risk ofcontracting the disease.

Managing Uncertainty and Elevated Distress■ Engage in health-promoting behaviors (e.g., exercise,social connectedness, relaxation strategies).
■ Maintain routines related to meals and bedtimes.
■ Remember that your loved one is receiving thenecessary care to support their recovery and that themajority of hospitalized individuals are successfully
treated and are able to return home.
■ Obtain ready access to the patient’s medical, legal, andfinancial documents during hospitalization should theneed arise in his/her absence.
■ Maintain contact with hospital personnel designatedto provide updates on your family member’s medical
status.
x Families should expect delays in status updates
as healthcare providers are busy helping patientsduring this outbreak.
x It is okay to advocate for yourself and your family
to receive updates. Although providers want to keep
you updated, they are very busy and may appreciate
the reminder.
Staying Connected During Family Separations■ Remember that physical separation from loved ones isnecessary to keep everyone safe and healthy.

their loved ones in the hospital
because of potential contagion,
which creates difficult separations
for everyone. Families may alsofeel stigmatized by others in theircommunity for having a relativewith the disease. Given thosechallenges, several strategies
are suggested to help families
cope while their relatives arehospitalized.

■ Keeping family members away from the hospital also

allows healthcare teams to more effectively focus on
caring for patients.
■ Create opportunities to communicate safely with thehospitalized family member via text, telephone, email,or video chat.
■ Have important conversations if health statusdeteriorates and prior to need for intubation.
x To understand last wishes.
x To provide opportunities to say goodbye.
Stigmatization from Others■ People are understandably concerned about the virus
spreading to themselves and their loved ones.
■ Evaluate each family member’s current risk of exposureand determine if self-isolation is required.
x Confirm with your health care provider when yourloved one and other family members are no longer
at risk of spreading the virus.
x After all family members are cleared by healthcare
providers, share this information with friends,
neighbors, community members, and extended
family, so they understand the family is not at riskof spreading the virus.
Continued

Communicating Effectively with Children■ Consider each child’s age and developmental
level when deciding the amount and nature of theinformation to share with them.
■ Explain to children that it is unlikely that anotherwise healthy patient with COVID-19 will die,but do not overly reassure them or provide false
assurance when a situation is dire.
■ Provide children with updated information about thepatient’s status and inform them that the sick family
member is receiving needed care.
■ It is appropriate to let children know that adults also
have concerns (e.g., “I understand. I’m concerned
about Grandpa too, but we’ll get through thistogether.”), but don’t burden them with unnecessaryworries.
■ Encourage children to create projects that promote
positive thoughts of the person that is ill. Find
creative ways to share these with the person in thehospital.

■ If a death occurs, the circumstances of the deathshould be explained to children using simple and clear
language.
■ Remember that children are likely to model theemotional reactions of adult caregivers.
For specific information about communicating withchildren about COVID-19 see Additional Resources listed
at the end of this fact sheet.
Additional Resources
Discussing Coronavirus with Your Children fact sheet
https://www.cstsonline.org/assets/media/documents/CSTS_FS_
Discussing_Coronavirus_w_Your_Children.pdf
Finding the Right Words to Talk with Children and Teens
about Coronavirus fact sheet
https://www.cstsonline.org/assets/media/documents/
CSTS_FS_Finding_Right_Words_Talk_Children_Teens_Coronavirus.pdf

Center for the Study of Traumatic Stress
Department of Psychiatry
Uniformed Services University
4301 Jones Bridge Road, Bethesda, MD 20814-4799
www.CSTSonline.org