Flexible visitation has not been shown to increase rates of infections in ICUs. Evidence does suggest that for patients, flexible visitation decreases anxiety, confusion, and agitation, decreases length of ICU stay, makes the patient feel more secure, increases patient satisfaction, and increases quality and safety. For patients’ family members, evidence suggests that unrestricted visitation increases satisfaction, decreases anxiety, promotes better communication, contributes to better understanding of the patient, allows more opportunities for patient/family teaching as the family becomes more involved in care.

How long do family members stand when a loved one is in the hospital? Often for days on end. 

There are countless tasks that family members have to do for loved ones, making meals, bringing things to and fro from the hospital, taking difficult decisions with incomplete information and knowledge, managing their own and each others emotions. Many do not get any sleep and do not eat well.

Visitors may themselves have disabilities that make it hard or impossible for them to stand 

The least we can do is give visitors a place to sit.

ICUs with its isolation, constant noise, light and other disturbances can exacerbate poor outcomes for patients. Delirium in critically ill patients either during the ICU stay or prolonged delirium post-discharge can be harmful and stressful for patients and families. Evidence based practices exist to reduce the propensity for delirium in critically ill patients.