A Guide to Sending Flowers to a Hospital

Over 35 million people have to stay in the hospital for one reason or another every year. Whether it is a temporary injury or a long-term illness, your loved one who is in the hospital will need your love and support. As helpless as you can feel when someone you love needs medical attention, there are things you can do to help show your best wishes and support, like sending flowers. 

When someone is in the hospital, sending them flowers is a great way to send a message of love and good thoughts. It is an uplifting sign of encouragement. Not only does it totally brighten up a dull and sterile hospital room, but it serves as a reminder for the patient that they are cared for. Flowers represent growth, positivity, and beauty and can be known to affect people’s moods positively. That being said, if these are “Get Well Soon” flowers, there are a few things you should keep in mind. 

Gather The Necessary Information

Before you can send a flower arrangement to someone in the hospital, there is some important information you need to know. You will need to know the patient’s full name, their room number, and of course, the name and address of the hospital itself. The hospital information can be found either online or through calling their front desk, and the patient’s information can be gathered from a friend or relative. Make sure the patient is actually still in the hospital before you send the arrangement—you do not want them to arrive after they have checked out! 

Some hospitals do not allow floral delivery, so you will have to check the specific hospital’s policy before arranging your delivery. Sections like the Intensive Care Unit or Emergency Room usually do not accept flower deliveries. You would have to wait until they are transferred into a hospital room that is not in those sections. The hospitals could have issues that relate to maintaining hospital hygiene, although many do accept flower deliveries. 

If the hospitals do not allow flower delivery, you can arrange for the flowers to be delivered when the patient gets back home or when they are transferred to a ward or hospital that does allow flower delivery. 

Go Allergy Free 

Even if the patient you are sending flowers to does not have a floral allergy, choosing an allergy-free arrangement is a considerate act, as the flowers will be around hospital workers, visitors, and other patients. Great allergy-free options are roses. Take care to choose a thorn-free rose if you are sending flowers that could be around children. 

Choose Cheerful Colors 

If someone you love is undergoing a treatment or procedure, you might wonder what an appropriate color arrangement to send is. When deciding which flowers to choose, opting for vibrant colors will be sure to bring both beauty and cheer to the hospital room. Consider the personality and preferences of your loved one, but almost everyone will appreciate a bouquet of brilliant and bright shades and colors. 

Do Not Send Flowers With Strong Fragrance 

When sending flowers to a hospital, especially to someone who is ill (versus injured), it is important to opt for scent-free arrangements. A cherry, light, and light-to-moderate scented arrangement is an ideal gift for patients regardless of their symptoms. 

Hospitals are bustling and busy places, and while it can be tempting to send a bouquet that smells incredible, it is possible that your loved one is sharing a room with someone who does not enjoy strong scents. Also, something that is heavily scented might clash with the medicinal and antiseptic smells that are typically in a hospital room. Send an arrangement that is visually striking but aromatically subtle. 

Be Aware Of Size

Flowers can improve patient morale and be a comforting sight for the patient during their hospital stay. Be cognizant of the fact that hospital rooms have limited available space. It can be tempting to buy enough flowers to fill up the entire hospital room, but best to resist the impulse. As wonderful as a giant bouquet or flower wall would be as a demonstration of love, it might be best to downsize your bouquet of flowers until the patient is back home. 

Careful thought goes into creating the perfect and personalized floral arrangement. Hospital patients do not usually have a lot of available free personal space. Your flowers should be able to fit comfortably on a nightstand. It will be simpler and easier for the patient to enjoy. When it is time for the patient to go home, it will also be easier for the patient to transport home with them. 

Include A Personal Card 

Take care not to forget to add a card to be delivered along with your flowers. Although the flowers are the main event of your gift, the addition of a card is equally important. It can make someone feel less alone. An encouraging message filled with love has the power to completely uplift someone’s day. Knowing that there is someone out there who is thinking about them and wishing them well can make all the difference in someone’s mindset while in the midst of a hospital visit. 

Bonus points if the card is handwritten, as that will always add an extra special and meaningful touch. If you are unsure what to say, go for a simple message of care that comes from the heart.

Choose A Durable Vase 

Along with the flowers themselves, it is also important to take time to carefully select the perfect vase or holding vessel for your flower arrangement. Hospitals are hustling and bustling places, so it is important to choose a vase that is durable in case it gets knocked over on accident by either the patient, a visitor, or a member of the hospital staff. 

A glass vase can be dangerous if it breaks in that particular environment, so it is best to choose an option that is safe and long-lasting. Other factors to consider are the vase color, size, transparency, and shape. Vases that are brightly colored or would appear out of place should not be used for the hospital floral arrangement. 

Stay Emotionally Present 

Being a patient in a hospital can be an overwhelming, emotional, and scary experience. That is why it is so important to stay emotionally connected and present, as your loved one can be feeling frustrated and vulnerable in their situation. Along with your beautiful flowers, giving the gift of attentive and active listening will mean the world. Flowers are a classic and timeless way to tell someone you love them that is both beautiful, truthful, and sincere. 

Do not be afraid to take initiative with your demonstrations of care and compassion. When asking a patient what they need, you are putting the responsibility of decisiveness and self-advocacy on them, which can feel uncomfortable for them. Taking the lead of sending love and helping hands by sending flowers or chicken soup or helping the patient tackle any future obstacles they might face after being discharged will relieve the patient of the pressure that can come with asking for help.

In Conclusion 

While there are many factors to consider and information to gather before sending flowers to the hospital, perhaps the most important piece of information is if that is something the patient would want to receive. Once you find that out, you will be able to choose the perfect arrangement for them. Flowers are a beautiful and calming gift to receive, and the patient will certainly know that you care and are thinking about them. It is an instantaneous makeover to a hospital room that will bring cheeriness and freshness and will revitalize the space in a natural way. 

Floral arrangements represent beauty, compassion, love, and effort, all of which are sentiments that carry extra meaning while undergoing a hospital stay, no matter the reason. When someone you love needs an emotional boost, receiving a flower arrangement can give them an extra boost they might not have realized they needed. It is a great way to let them know you care, even if you cannot be physically there. When visiting hours are over, they will be able to look at their flowers and know they are loved and thought of. 

Sources:

Sending Flowers To Someone In Hospital - What You Need To Know | Style Motivation 

Dos And Don’ts For Visiting Patients In The Hospital | Very Well Health

Here’s How You Can Really Help Someone Who Is In The Hospital | Huffington Post