When seniors are released from the hospital, their family caregivers need to do everything possible to prevent them from being readmitted, which begins with a safe living environment and an adequate care plan. Failing to maintain healthy habits could increase the risk of hospital readmission and harm your aging loved one’s health. Below are some of the reasons readmissions are bad for the elderly.
Ineffective Treatment
If your loved one is admitted back into the hospital, his or her treatment may not have been working, which could cause severe health consequences. It’s vital that your parent goes to all of his or her doctor appointments after being released from the hospital. At this time, you can share your loved one’s reactions to medications as well as other important information with the primary care physician. If the doctor can prescribe different medicines or change the treatment plan early on, your loved one’s recovery process could go a lot more smoothly, and the odds of readmission will decrease.
Removal from Home
If you don’t provide adequate care and your parent is readmitted to the hospital, social workers may step in to make other arrangements, including moving your loved one into a nursing home or an assisted living facility, even if this is against his or her wishes. Living at home during the senior years could boost your loved one’s emotional and cognitive health. Therefore, you and your siblings should develop an excellent care plan or consider using professional services like in-home care.
Some seniors only require help with a few daily tasks so they can maintain their independence. However, those living with serious illnesses may need more extensive assistance. Luckily, there is professional live-in care Tucson, AZ, seniors can rely on. Home can be a safer and more comfortable place for your loved one to live with the help of an expertly trained and dedicated live-in caregiver.
Infectious Diseases
Bacteria and viruses can spread rapidly at a hospital, putting older adults at a higher risk of developing pneumonia, the flu, and a variety of infectious diseases. The ages of people in the hospital vary, as do the conditions they’ve developed. You shouldn’t put your loved one at a higher risk of developing other illnesses when he or she is still trying to recover from a previous condition or procedure. Keep in mind that infectious diseases could be more severe at hospitals due to the more aggressive organisms, and this could be harder to treat in older adults.
A professional caregiver can monitor your loved one for post-hospitalization complications, including infections. When searching for reliable home care service agencies, families want to know their senior loved one 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.
Increased Risk of Falls
While staying in the hospital, your loved one may need to be sedated. As a result, his or her risk of a slip or fall increases significantly. Seniors have to share the attention of doctors, nurses, and other medical staff instead of receiving one-on-one care at home, which means your loved one could fall and go unnoticed for a few minutes or longer. Falls are one of the leading causes of death among the elderly. You need to do everything possible to prevent your loved one from being readmitted into the hospital, which can be achieved by following the doctor’s discharge instructions and monitoring your loved one’s recovery process closely.
A professional caregiver can be a wonderful source of support for a senior who’s recovering after being hospitalized. Tucson homecare experts are available to provide high-quality care to seniors on an as-needed basis. 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. Reach out to us at Home Care Assistance if you need compassionate, professional care for your loved one. Schedule a free in-home consultation by giving us a call today at (520) 276-6555.