Sweden, since the 1980s, has run “patient hotels,” which serve as a hospital/hotel combo for people who need some kind of monitoring by a doctor, but don’t really need to stay in a hospital.
The advantages are two-fold: First, it’s far cheaper. A bed in a hospital can cost about $600 a day, whereas a bed in a “patient hotel” costs $135. Second, it’s a far more pleasant experience, as the hotel has a great restaurant and the overall ambiance is delightful. You get to wear your own clothes, socialize with other “patient/guests,” and feel like you’re on vacation at a spa. (Chocolate mints on the pillow at night? Maybe!) (But they definitely serve wine at dinner!)
This sounds ideal for many Parkies. In the below video, a Parkie named Anita stays in a patient hotel so her doctor can tweak what I think is her Duopa pump. The hotel is across the street from the regular hospital, so her doctor is nearby. But she doesn’t have to put up with all that’s stressful during a regular hospital stay. And she can go out in the city if she wants to.
It looks and sounds terrific.
Click here for the entire article + video. I don’t know why the video above is so small; if you play it, just click on the icon on the bottom right to enlarge it to full screen.
