Request accessibility or mobility support during a hospital visit
Request accessibility or mobility support during a hospital visit
Silent Hill Health can help arrange accessibility, mobility, communication, sensory, and support-person assistance during a hospital visit. These needs may be related to walking or transferring safely, understanding instructions, using assistive devices, managing sensory overload, or having a support person help communicate care needs.
Accessibility support may be available during emergency visits, planned admissions, outpatient hospital services, discharge planning, and Brookhaven Hospital behavioral health stays. Tell staff what you need as early as possible so the care team can plan safely.
Important: If you need urgent medical help, do not wait to request accommodations through the portal. Call local emergency services or go to the nearest emergency department. Emergency staff can help with accessibility needs when you arrive.
Request support before arrival
If your visit is planned, request accessibility or mobility support before your arrival date. This helps the hospital prepare the correct entrance, check-in area, equipment, staff support, or communication assistance.
- Sign in to your Silent Hill Health patient portal.
- Go to Appointments & Scheduling, Hospital Visits & Admissions, or Portal Help & Technical Support.
- Select Request accessibility support or Request mobility assistance.
- Choose the visit, admission, department, or facility connected to your request.
- Describe the support you need, such as wheelchair assistance, interpreter services, sensory accommodations, or help transferring.
- Submit the request and watch for portal messages, phone calls, or check-in instructions.
If your visit is at Alchemilla Hospital, include your arrival time and department. If your visit is at Brookhaven Hospital, include any safety, sensory, communication, or support-person needs that may affect intake.
Wheelchairs and mobility support
Mobility support can help patients enter the hospital, move between departments, transfer safely, or prepare for discharge. Tell staff if you use a cane, walker, wheelchair, brace, prosthetic, oxygen equipment, or other mobility aid.
| Need | Support that may be available | What to tell staff |
|---|---|---|
| Wheelchair assistance | Help from entrance, parking area, lobby, or check-in desk | Where you will arrive and whether you can transfer independently |
| Help walking or transferring | Staff assistance, fall-risk precautions, lift equipment, or therapy review | Whether you need one-person, two-person, or equipment-assisted help |
| Mobility device use | Space for walkers, canes, wheelchairs, braces, or prosthetics when safe | What device you use every day and whether it should stay nearby |
| Accessible room needs | Room assignment review, bathroom access, bed height considerations, or equipment planning | Whether you need extra space, assistive equipment, or support reaching call buttons |
Communication needs
Tell staff if you need help understanding, hearing, seeing, speaking, reading, writing, or using the patient portal. Communication support helps the care team explain your care plan and helps you ask questions during the visit.
Communication support may include
- Interpreter services for spoken language needs.
- Sign language interpreter services or other support for Deaf or hard-of-hearing patients.
- Written instructions, large-print materials, or help reading discharge documents.
- Assistance using a communication board, speech device, tablet, or other assistive technology.
- Permission for a support person to help communicate needs when appropriate and allowed.
If you use hearing aids, glasses, dentures, communication devices, or other daily-use aids, bring them with you and tell staff where they are kept.
Sensory needs
Hospital settings can be bright, loud, crowded, or unpredictable. If you have sensory sensitivities, anxiety in medical settings, trauma-related needs, autism-related needs, migraine triggers, or other sensory concerns, tell the care team as early as possible.
| Sensory concern | What may help |
|---|---|
| Noise sensitivity | Ask whether ear protection, quieter waiting areas, or reduced interruptions are possible. |
| Light sensitivity | Ask whether lights can be dimmed when safe or whether sunglasses, a hat, or eye covering is allowed. |
| Touch or procedure anxiety | Ask staff to explain before touching, pause when possible, and tell you what will happen next. |
| Overwhelm or distress | Ask whether a support person, quiet space, grounding item, or behavioral health consult may help. |
Staff may not be able to remove every sound, light, or interruption, especially in emergency care, but they can document your needs and look for safe ways to reduce distress.
Support person help
A support person may help with communication, mobility, emotional support, care planning, transportation, or discharge instructions. Support person access may depend on the care area, patient consent, safety needs, visitor guidelines, and unit rules.
- Tell staff who your support person is and what they help with.
- Ask whether the support person can remain with you during check-in, evaluation, or discharge teaching.
- Make sure the support person knows hospital visitor rules and brings photo ID.
- Ask staff what information can be shared with the support person.
- If you want the support person to receive updates, ask how to add or update an authorized hospital contact.
For more information, review Support a patient during a hospital stay and Get updates about a hospitalized family member.
Service animals
Service animals may be allowed in many patient areas when they can be safely accommodated. Staff may ask questions needed to understand the service animal’s role and whether the care area can safely support the animal during treatment.
Tell staff if:
- You use a service animal for mobility, alerting, guiding, psychiatric support tasks, or another disability-related task.
- The animal needs space near your bed, chair, or treatment area.
- You may need help arranging animal care during procedures, imaging, isolation precautions, or admission.
- A support person may need to help care for the animal if you are unable to do so during treatment.
Some areas may have restrictions for infection control, safety, or behavioral health unit rules. Staff will explain options if the animal cannot remain in a specific treatment area.
Brookhaven accessibility support
Brookhaven Hospital can support mobility, communication, sensory, and disability-related needs during behavioral health intake or admission. Because Brookhaven has additional safety rules, some accommodations may be reviewed by the unit care team before they are approved.
Brookhaven staff may review:
- Mobility aids, braces, assistive devices, or medical equipment needed on the unit.
- Communication devices, chargers, hearing aids, glasses, or sensory aids.
- Comfort items, weighted items, headphones, journals, or personal objects.
- Support person access during intake or discharge planning.
- Any item that may need to be stored, modified, supervised, or replaced with a safer option.
For more detail, review Brookhaven safety and visitor guidelines and Prepare for a Brookhaven behavioral health visit.
Discharge and transportation
If you need mobility or accessibility support after discharge, tell your nurse, case manager, or discharge planner as early as possible. Transportation, equipment, and caregiver coordination may take time to arrange.
| Discharge need | Who may help | What to ask |
|---|---|---|
| Wheelchair transport | Nurse, discharge planner, case manager, or transport staff | Ask when transport should arrive and where pickup should happen. |
| Home equipment | Case manager, therapy team, or provider | Ask whether equipment is needed before you leave. |
| Discharge instructions | Nurse, provider, interpreter, or support person | Ask for instructions in a format you can understand and use. |
| Support at home | Care team, case manager, caregiver, or authorized contact | Ask what help is needed with mobility, medications, appointments, or follow-up care. |
FAQ
Can I request a wheelchair when I arrive?
Yes. Ask at the entrance, registration desk, emergency department check-in, or unit desk. If your visit is planned, requesting wheelchair assistance before arrival can help staff prepare.
Can a support person help me communicate with staff?
Often, yes. A support person may help explain your needs, ask questions, or help you understand instructions. Staff may still need your permission before sharing medical details with that person.
Can I bring my own mobility aid or assistive device?
In most cases, yes. Bring the device you use every day and tell staff how you use it. Some areas, especially Brookhaven or procedure areas, may review devices for safety before allowing them to remain with you.
What if I need help because of sensory overload?
Tell staff what is happening and what helps. The care team may be able to reduce stimulation, explain steps before care, allow a support person when appropriate, or document sensory needs for the unit.
Can I request accessibility support for discharge?
Yes. Tell your nurse or discharge planner if you need wheelchair transport, mobility equipment, caregiver coordination, communication support, or transportation help after leaving the hospital.
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