Repeated visits to the hospital are fairly common among seniors, and many of the reasons for readmittance after a recent hospitalization are preventable. If your senior loved one has recently been discharged from the hospital, keep an eye out for the following issues that could result in readmittance.
Slipping or Falling
Many treatments for existing health conditions can increase the chances of slipping and falling after a hospital stay. Some medications can cause dizziness, weakness, and mobility issues. Help your loved one with mobility and encourage him or her to take it easy in the weeks after the hospital stay.
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Avoiding Follow-Up Appointments
In most cases, a hospital will schedule follow-up appointments. At these appointments, the healthcare professionals can monitor your loved one’s progress and suggest ways to adjust treatments as needed. Without this individualized care, your loved one may have to go for an emergency visit to the hospital again.
Failing to Understand the Doctor’s Instructions
During a hospital discharge, the staff should provide detailed instructions on how to take care of your loved one at home. However, these instructions are often rushed because seniors are eager to leave the hospital. Write down all these instructions and ask questions as needed. Following all medical instructions is crucial to proper healing.
Providing post-hospitalization care to older adults can be a challenging task. Families who find it difficult to care for their aging loved ones without assistance can benefit greatly from professional respite care. Reston, VA, family caregivers who need a break from their caregiving duties can turn to Assisting Hands Home Care. Our caregivers can encourage your loved one to eat well, exercise regularly, get plenty of mental and social stimulation, and focus on other lifestyle factors that promote longevity.
Mixing Up Medications
At the end of most hospital stays, seniors are given a variety of medications that need to be taken at different times. It’s easy to have some sort of mishap with the medicines that may put seniors right back in the hospital. Try to carefully write down all instructions, read labels to prevent side effects, and set alarms so your loved one takes the medications at the right time.
Getting a Secondary Infection
No matter how hygienic a hospital is, there’s still a risk of infections following an illness or surgery. Seniors with wounds or incisions can develop sepsis, and even those who don’t have a break in the skin could get a lung infection like pneumonia. Carefully cleaning and monitoring wounds is a good way to prevent infections from setting in. If you have a senior loved one who needs help maintaining a high quality of life while aging in place, reach out to Assisting Hands Home Care, a leading provider of home care Reston families can trust. Our caregivers help seniors focus on healthy lifestyle habits such as eating nutritious foods, exercising regularly, and maintaining strong social ties, and we offer mentally stimulating activities that can boost cognitive health and delay the onset of dementia. If your loved one needs help with the challenges of aging, call one of our compassionate Care Specialists today.
