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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The holiday season offers many long-awaited experiences, from spending time with family and friends to enjoying favorite holiday meals. However, if you provide eldercare for a loved one, you may wonder how the holidays will affect your typical routine, especially this year. Most of us experience some shake-up in our routines around the holidays, but these changes are often more acutely felt by seniors. We have outlined some tips below to help make caring for a senior living at home more comfortable on everyone involved during the holidays. Make a Senior Care Plan for the HolidaysBeing prepared for the holidays will make your job as a family caregiver easier to manage. It will also ensure your loved one stays comfortable and content through what is often a chaotic season. Here are just a few of the ways you can prepare:
One of the best ways to make your health and well-being a priority during this busy season is to get respite care service from a professional elder care provider. Being proactive about meeting your own self-care needs will make this time of year much more enjoyable and give you the energy required to provide the quality of care your loved one deserves. Visiting Angels Provides Safe, High-Quality Care the Elderly Deserve.Visiting Angels’ priority remains the health and safety of its caregivers and the clients they serve every day. As an award-winning home care agency in Greater Boston, Visiting Angels Newton/Canton follows and adheres to the latest health and safety guidelines issued by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Despite the challenges associated with COVID-19, in-home caregivers fulfill Visiting Angels’ mission of partnering with families to provide essential at-home care for older adults.
Visiting Angels’ in-home caregivers continue to be homecare heroes on the frontlines, taking necessary steps to protect elderly loved ones and themselves by doing whatever it takes to prevent the spread of COVID-19. About Visiting Angels Newton/Canton Visiting Angels Newton/Canton MA is an award-winning local home care agency providing high caliber in-home care services to the elderly and people with disabilities. Countless families have benefited from our in-home dementia care, Alzheimer's care, respite care, live-in and 24-hour care, companion care, transitional aid, and in-home care services in Brookline, as well as Boston neighborhoods including Canton, Dedham, Natick, Needham, Newton, Norwood, Stoughton, Watertown, Wellesley, Westwood, and neighboring communities. The essential personal care provided by Visiting Angels Newton/Canton, can make a significant impact on your loved one's happiness and quality of life. |
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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