Nobody enjoys being admitted to the hospital. Whether it’s an overnight visit or an extended stay, the time away from the comforts of home can negatively affect a senior’s physical and mental health. Readmittance soon after discharge from the hospital is difficult for seniors and their loved ones. Unfortunately, this scenario is a sad and familiar reality for many individuals over 65. Roughly 20% of seniors on Medicare end up back in the hospital within 30 days of their last visit due to preventable factors such as:
Reduce hospital readmission risks by learning what questions to ask and understanding why professional in-home care can be vital for seniors after a stint in the hospital. Questions to Ask During a Hospital Discharge
The hospital discharge practice often feels onerous, and seniors and their caregivers may leave confused. A smooth process — and getting clear instructions — can help reduce the odds of hospital readmission. Here are some questions to ask before your senior loved one leaves the facility: What do I need to know about their condition before discharge? Make sure you get all information about your loved one’s condition from the hospital staff. Understand what they have been diagnosed with and what kind of care they received in the facility. Learn which symptoms will require follow-up from a medical professional. Are there any changes to medication? Medication errors are one of the main reasons seniors get readmitted to the hospital. Ask the hospital staff to provide you with a list of prescribed medications. Make sure you understand the dosages and recommended times. Also, confirm which medications your loved one should no longer take. What upcoming appointments are needed? Get a list of upcoming medical appointments and mark them on your calendar. Follow-up appointments will help a doctor confirm recovery is on track and prevent a return trip to the hospital. If possible, try to attend these appointments with your loved one. What additional support is recommended? Many seniors need non-medical support — such as help with mobility, bathing or dressing, and other household tasks — following a hospital stay. Ask hospital staff what kind of in-home care support your loved one requires. Also, find out what tasks they should do on their own. Not being able to do these tasks could be a sign of worsening health. Can the hospital provide written, step-by-step discharge instructions? Make sure to get clear, easy-to-understand, documented instructions from the hospital before discharge. If you can’t comprehend the instructions, review them with the staff. Make copies so both you and your loved one have the same information and, if necessary, rewrite them so they can be easily followed. In-Home Care Program for Seniors After a Hospital Stay Many family caregivers underestimate the support needed for seniors to continue on their road to recovery. As a result, the care at home may end with a return to the hospital or an emergency room. With proper support and planning, you can reduce the risk of re-hospitalization. Consider enrolling in the Visiting Angels Newton/Canton’s From Hospital/Rehab to Home Program for extra assistance. This specialized service helps seniors transition from a hospital to a home setting safely and effectively, enabling your loved one to recover comfortably in familiar surroundings. Experienced caregivers will provide seniors with:
Schedule a free care consultation to discuss your loved one’s needs during and following a hospital stay. About Visiting Angels Newton/Canton Visiting Angels Newton/Canton MA has been providing high-caliber in-home care services for seniors and people with disabilities for over eighteen years. Countless families have benefited from our companion care, personal home care, live-in and 24/7 home care, dementia and Alzheimer’s care, fall prevention, respite support, transitional aid, and at home care services in Wellesley, Natick, Dedham, Needham, Newton, Watertown, Brookline, Stoughton, Canton, Jamaica Plain, Norwood, Roslindale, Upper Back Bay, Westwood, and neighboring communities. As a result of our exemplary home care service, Visiting Angels Newton/Canton has won the Best of Home Care Leader in Excellence Award; the Best of Home Care Provider of Choice Award; and the Best of Home Care Employer of Choice Award from the national client satisfaction survey firm, Home Care Pulse, for six years. We have been honored to receive the Boston Globe’s Top Places to Work award for seven years and one of the ten best places to work in Massachusetts in 2021 based on diversity and inclusion. Our dedicated and well-trained caregivers love their HHA jobs and CNA jobs.
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Most seniors want to age at home for as long as possible. Still, seniors living with chronic health conditions or physical and emotional limitations may need 24-hour living assistance at home. This constant care is likely to be impossible for families to manage and sustain. One option is to move in with a family member. Another option is to move them to an assisted living facility. A third option is full-time or 24-hour in-home care, where professional caregivers provide 24/7 assistance — day and night — in the comfort of their own home. Why Some Seniors May Need 24-Hour Home CarePoor eyesight, memory loss, mobility issues, and deteriorating health are some of the things that can make simple everyday tasks challenging and frustrating for older adults. Professional one-on-one caregivers from Visiting Angels can handle these daily responsibilities and offer safety, support, and companionship. Here are some advantages of round-the-clock care: SafetyProfessional home caregivers from Visiting Angels are trained to identify tripping and accident risks and other potential household hazards for seniors. They can act as your eyes and ears to monitor and protect your loved one. Reliable care at a reasonable costNursing homes and other facilities for the elderly can be costly. Knowing you’re getting reliable, affordable home care is a cost-effective advantage of a 24/7 live-in home care aide. Support from friends and familyWhen your loved one is comfortable in their home, they can welcome and entertain family and friends. Visitors can come when they want, unlike nursing homes with permanent visiting hours. This flexibility enables more people to spend quality time with senior loved ones. Personalized care & lifestyle maintenanceWhen seniors move into a nursing home, many things change — a new room, surroundings, people, and schedules. All of these transitions can disorient and upset the elderly. In-home caregivers will ensure the care they need without disrupting their routine. A one-on-one support system enables a high level of personal care for seniors. Meals, activities, and other requests can be tailored to your loved one’s preferences. A home caregiver can tackle light everyday chores and keep the house clean and orderly according to your loved one’s wishes. They can also help with day-to-day transportation to and from doctor appointments, grocery store visits, and other out-of-home activities. Meaningful companionshipIn addition to physical assistance, a 24-hour professional caregiver offers emotional support and one-to-one companion care. A 24-hour home care aide provides seniors with an acquaintance they can rely on and prevent loneliness. Respite for family caregiversMany family caregivers can become overwhelmed when supporting an elderly loved one and may benefit from respite care service. 24-hour care service can provide families a brief break by offering a helping hand with household responsibilities. Families can rest easy knowing there is always a considerate, competent professional taking care of their loved ones.
Visiting Angels’ 24-hour home caregivers provide dedicated and compassionate care for seniors, keeping them safe and comfortable while giving you peace of mind. Take the first step to learn more through a complimentary home care assessment. During a Visiting Angels’ in-home care assessment, we’ll meet with you and your loved one to determine how 24-hour care can deliver the best outcome. Our Select Your Caregiver® program enables you to choose your loved one’s caregiver(s). Thanks to our in-depth care assessments, we’ll suggest caregiver matches that closely meet your needs, making it easy to select the proper care professional for your loved one. To learn more, please contact us at 617–795–2727. About Visiting Angels Newton/Canton Visiting Angels Newton/Canton MA has been providing high-caliber in-home care services for seniors and people with disabilities for over eighteen years. Countless families have benefited from our private duty care, companion care, respite support, dementia and Alzheimer’s care, live-in and 24/7 home care, transitional aid, and home care services in Watertown, Brookline, Natick, Wellesley, Dedham, Needham, Stoughton, Canton, Jamaica Plain, Newton, Norwood, Roslindale, Upper Back Bay, Westwood, and neighboring communities. As a result of our exemplary home care service, Visiting Angels Newton/Canton has won the Best of Home Care Leader in Excellence Award; the Best of Home Care Provider of Choice Award; and the Best of Home Care Employer of Choice Award from the national client satisfaction survey firm, Home Care Pulse, for six years. We have been honored to receive the Boston Globe’s Top Places to Work award for seven years and one of the ten best places to work in Massachusetts in 2021 based on diversity and inclusion. Our dedicated and well-trained caregivers love their HHA jobs and CNA jobs. |
AuthorVisiting Angels Newton/Canton is an award-winning in-home care agency that provides high quality home care to seniors and disabled adults in Greater Boston, MA. Archives
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