When someone you care about needs to stay in the hospital, sending flowers is a great way to send your well-wishes for a speedy recovery. Whether the stay is for a joyous occasion such as the birth of a child or for an illness that needs to be treated, flowers bring cheer to a lonely hospital room and show that you care.
When you read this article, you can learn:
* How to Send Flowers to a Hospital
* How to Choose Flowers to Send
* Which Flowers Are the Best to Send
* Why Flowers Make us Happy
Before making a choice about which flowers to send, check with the hospital to see if deliveries are permitted and if there is a restriction on the types of flowers that can be sent. Intensive care units, burn units, and maternity wards are examples of areas where flowers are not permitted.
Once you determine if the hospital and the specific ward of the hospital accept deliveries, ask for the specific times that deliveries can be made.
Gather information to have ready for the florist before you order flowers. Information such as the patient’s name and room number. Because room numbers can change, you may leave this information off unless the hospital policy states you must have it. All deliveries are verified by the front desk when the delivery is made. Some patients have a non-disclosure order in place stating no information on the patient can be given out, this includes their room number. In this case, you must have the room number or the code the patient has established in order for the reception to confirm that the patient is currently in the hospital for treatment.
Once you have gathered your information and verified that deliveries can be made, choose your flowers. After the florist creates your arrangement, they deliver it to the hospital.
How to Choose Flowers to Send
There are many factors to consider when choosing flowers to send to a hospital. The first is to consider if the patient is going home alone when released, or if they have a family member or friend with them. A large bouquet is hard to manage if you are alone and may require help to carry.
Also, consider the amount of care required to maintain the arrangement. Instead of an arrangement in a vase that requires frequent changes of water, think about arrangements that use foam at the base which retains water and requires less maintenance. Flowers with woody stems hold up better and do not get soggy.
When checking with the hospital about deliveries and times, be sure to ask about any restrictions on types of containers. Some hospitals prefer not to receive tall or breakable containers. Stick to durable containers made of metal, wicker, or plastic. Hospital rooms can be small and congested so consider smaller arrangements that can either sit against a wall or be placed in a small area out of the way.
Which Flowers Are the Best to Send
When choosing flowers, choose brightly colored ones. A mixed bouquet with a lot of different colors adds cheer to any hospital room. Don’t forget to put a little extra thought into the container. Your mixed bouquet can be arranged into a whimsical, bright container that can be reused once the patient gets home. Containers such as an oversized coffee mug, or a figurine.
Because there are many types of people in a hospital at one time, it is best to send hypoallergenic flowers to avoid affecting patients or staff who have allergies. Flowers are considered hypoallergenic if their pollen is contained within the flower.
Flowers that are classified as hypoallergenic are roses, carnations, chrysanthemums, orchids, bells of Ireland, and alstroemerias. Lilies, for example, are not hypoallergenic because they have exposed pollen.
Also, avoid strongly scented flowers because they can cause an onset of headaches or dizziness in allergy suffers.
Flower colors are associated with certain meanings, so remember when choosing that brightly colored flower arrangement, choose colors that convey a message for you in addition to “get well soon.”
* White represents new beginnings
* Red symbolizes love and admiration
* Yellow shines with friendship and love
When choosing a floral arrangement for a new baby, choose flowers that represent new beginnings, hope, and positivity. Gerber daisies work well for this purpose. They come in cheerful colors such as yellow, coral, pink, red, and orange. They symbolize hope, new beginnings, and prosperity. Because some maternity wards don’t accept flowers, you may have to send flowers to the home of the new parents.
After you have chosen your flowers and their container, there are several options for adding an extra touch such as balloons which give a burst of color to small arrangements. Take note, latex balloons are not allowed in hospitals, but Mylar balloons are. Other touches you can add are candy and small stuffed toys.
Why Flowers Make us Happy
Flowers are associated with spring, the season when long winters end and a new season begins. Flowers bloom at the same time people are filled with the anticipation of an abundance of food, warmth, and sunshine. Flowers signal that something special is about to come. It’s that connection to the anticipation of something to come that triggers Dopamine in the body. Dopamine is a chemical in the body that helps regulate emotions.
Oxytocin is considered the “bonding hormone.” This chemical is responsible for driving the feeling of trust in others. Trust in others is developed when others show that they are making an effort in a relationship, that they respect fragility in others, and they show they care for life. Flowers communicate these intentions, therefore releasing oxytocin in the recipient and creating a feeling of trust.
Flowers also foster feelings of pride and social importance. These feelings trigger the release of serotonin, a chemical released in the body that helps fight depression.
Conclusion
Bring cheer and love to a friend or loved one’s hospital room with fresh flowers. A carefully chosen bouquet of brightly colored flowers gives the patient energy and increases optimism. It shows you care and wishes them a speedy recovery.