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As the family of someone about to have an autologous stem cell transplant, we are trying to plan the logistics of the hospital stay. We live 2 hours from the hospital. We want to know how much more dangerous is it if we split the time with her, rather than 1 person staying the whole hospital stay.

May 5
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A MyMyelomaTeam Member

If the second caregiver quarantines a week before and is healthy, I think it is a great idea.💕
Paula🌹

May 5
MyMyelomaTeam

What a thoughtful family to be planning this so carefully — your loved one is lucky to have you all thinking ahead!

The hospital stay after an autologous stem cell transplant is typically two to three weeks. During this time, the immune system is extremely vulnerable, so infection prevention is the top priority for anyone Show Full Answer

What a thoughtful family to be planning this so carefully — your loved one is lucky to have you all thinking ahead!

The hospital stay after an autologous stem cell transplant is typically two to three weeks. During this time, the immune system is extremely vulnerable, so infection prevention is the top priority for anyone visiting or staying. Regarding rotating caregivers, there is no strict rule that only one person must stay the entire time. However, there are important precautions to keep in mind:

- Each caregiver must be healthy — anyone with even a mild cold or illness should not visit
- Hand hygiene and possibly gowning/masking may be required by the hospital
- Hospital visitor policies vary — some limit the number of visitors allowed at one time, so check with the care team directly
- Rotating caregivers can actually be beneficial — it prevents caregiver burnout, especially with a 2-hour commute

The key risk isn't really about *how many* people rotate through, but whether each person follows strict hygiene and infection-control protocols every single time. The most important step is to speak directly with the transplant team before the admission date. They will have specific guidelines for your hospital and can help you plan a safe rotation schedule that works for your family.

May 5

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