People who visit the hospital for an overnight stay are approximately 20 percent more likely to be readmitted within 30 days. This is especially true for those with heart or respiratory issues, and it’s even more common among seniors. No one wants to spend more time in the hospital than they have to, as it can have a negative impact on mental and physical health. If your senior loved one has been in the hospital recently, follow these practices to reduce his or her chance of readmission.
Don’t Go Home Too Early
It’s understandable that your loved one wants to go home as soon as possible, but it’s important to stay as long as the doctors recommend. If you feel like your loved one is being sent home too soon, speak up. Infections can develop, complications can arise, and an illness or injury that isn’t fully treated can turn into something more serious. It’s also important that your loved one is completely honest about his or her symptoms when the doctors and nurses begin talking about discharge.
Accept Post-Hospital Care if Necessary
Depending on why your loved one is in the hospital, the doctor may recommend some sort of transitional care upon discharge, which could mean going to a rehabilitation facility, spending time in an assisted living home, or accepting in-home care for a while. While many seniors are quick to dismiss such offers, it’s worth taking seriously. It’s much better to recover at home with the help of a caregiver than it is to return to the hospital a few weeks later.
Senior home care experts are available to provide high-quality care to older adults. From assistance with mobility and exercise to providing transportation to the doctor’s office and social events, there are a variety of ways professional caregivers can help your aging loved one continue to live independently.
Monitor Vital Signs at Home
In the days and weeks following the discharge, help your loved one keep an eye on his or her vital signs. Blood pressure cuffs and thermometers can be purchased for home use. If your loved one is diabetic, make sure to monitor his or her blood sugar. Keeping up with these important numbers can help you spot signs that something isn’t right before your loved one ends up in the emergency room.
For some families, caring for a senior loved one can be overwhelming at times. Luckily, they can rely on professional respite care. Clearwater, FL, Home Care Assistance is a trusted name in respite and hourly care. Our caregivers are available around the clock to assist seniors with bathing, transportation, medication reminders, exercise, and much more, allowing families the time they need to focus on other important responsibilities or just take a break.
Make Appropriate Lifestyle Changes
Upon discharge, your loved one’s doctors may recommend some lifestyle changes, such as light exercise, a new diet, stopping smoking, and cutting back on alcohol. The sooner your loved one can start, the better the chances of avoiding hospital readmission. These changes can be difficult, so make sure to provide your loved one with as much support as possible.
Make Sure You Understand the Care Plan
When the doctors and nurses discharge your loved one from the hospital, they’ll provide a transitional care plan, which includes information about the reason your loved one was in the hospital, changes to medications, follow-up appointments, information regarding lifestyle changes, and everything else you need to know about your loved one’s care at home. If you don’t understand something or feel it’s incomplete, ask questions until you and your loved one understand what’s expected after the hospital stay.
Follow Up with Doctors & Manage Medication
Have prescriptions filled the day your loved one leaves the hospital, and make sure he or she understands when and how to take all new medications. Schedule any follow-up appointments if the hospital didn’t do it for you, and don’t cancel or postpone them.
A professional caregiver can monitor your loved one for post-hospitalization complications and provide transportation to medical appointments. When searching for reliable Clearwater home care service agencies, families want to know their senior loved ones will be well taken care of. At Home Care Assistance, our expertly trained caregivers are available around the clock to assist with tasks around the house, provide transportation to medical appointments and social events, and much more. Home Care Assistance can be your trusted partner when your loved one needs help with the challenges of aging. Call us today at (520) 276-6555 to learn about our high-quality in-home care services.