How do we support elderly MIL in hospital (no visitors allowed)

[Blankiefan]

88yo MIL was taken into hospital last week after an infection and a fall. She's in a medical investigation ward where she's isolated in her own room. The hospital only allows end of life visitors. She has no ward fellow patients to chat to as she's in a dedicated room to avoid infection. She's deaf so can't hear the TV well (it doesn't work with her hearing aids). Her sight doesn't allow her to read.
She isn't technically competent - she just about manages a simple mobile phone but that does confuse her. The doctor has told us she's trying to get her moved to a normal ward but hasn't committed to when.

She phoned DH today very upset. She thinks she's been in there for longer than she has (she's been in 8 days) and was very low saying she was going to die there.

DH phones every day as does his sister but we feel totally powerless to help her. I've thought about a tablet that we could control remotely when she calls us (so we remotely put on films or TV of whatever) but don't know if there's a way of doing this.

Any advice on technical solutions or a person/role/advocate we can use to get her some better support. It must be desperate for her to feel lost in a bit of an abyss. 😪

Lookat a Komp

You dont say where she is but my MIL - very similar with hearing etc was very isolated and a local charitable organisation loaned these out to people in difficult circumstances. They allow you to contact her and it automatically connects and she can see you like a skype type call but all control is with you rather than them they don't need to do anything

Thanks. We looked at this at the start of lockdown but ended up with an alexa show which was fine when she was in the house. Our thinking is as much to give her some entertainment to pass the time as she can't read or chat to anyone or watch the telly. I think she's happier with phone calls than video chats for contact.

@Blankiefan that sounds so hard for you. And for your MIL being stuck in a room with no visitors or entertainment. Are the hospital doing anything to sort out a TV that she can hear with her hearing aids? Could PALS at the hospital help with this?

Some of the hospital TVs have radio channels as well, could you talk to her nurse and ask if that’s an option and if so ask if someone could put a suitable radio channel on for her (if that’s something she would like).