Readmissions can harm the physical, mental, and financial wellbeing of seniors and their families. It’s essential to understand your senior loved one’s illness and develop a plan that helps him or her avoid readmission after discharge. Below you’ll find the top reasons seniors are readmitted to the hospital within 30 days and what families can do to prevent each issue.
Heart Failure
The prevalence of heart failure is higher in seniors compared to children and young adults. If your loved one has been hospitalized for a stroke, heart attack, or other cardiovascular problem, the odds of being readmitted within 30 days are extremely high. The good news is most readmissions are preventable. You should ask the hospital for educational materials to understand your parent’s condition more accurately. Go over the discharge papers and doctor recommendations thoroughly with regard to healthy diet plans, physical activities, therapy sessions, and proper medication management.
Many aging adults need assistance when they return home after being hospitalized. 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 Edmonton, AB, 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.
Implant Complications
The number of annual orthopedic procedures, especially hip and knee replacements, continues to rise among the elderly. The objective of these implants is to enhance the lives of seniors with severe arthritis pain. Even when the procedure is successful, friction from ordinary activities such as exercising and navigating the home could lead to inflammation in tissues around the joint. When this continues, the implant could loosen, causing severe pain and decreased function and increasing the risk of hospital readmission. Good postoperative care can prevent most complications. Make sure your loved one takes prescribed medication, refrains from overexertion, and wears protective braces at all times until instructed by his or her physician to do otherwise.
A professional caregiver can closely monitor your loved one for post-hospitalization complications. 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.
Psychological Stress
Returning to life without around-the-clock care can be stressful, which is why you should develop a care plan before your loved one is released. If your parent is unsure of where he or she will live during recovery or how to pay the medical bills, his or her anxiety levels could increase, putting his or her overall health in jeopardy. Reassure your loved one and look for ways to make life less challenging. For instance, ask the doctor to recommend home care during the beginning stages of the recovery process. Your loved one’s insurance provider might cover the cost of home care and medical devices or home improvements.
Continuous Alcohol and Cigarette Usage
Even after being released from the hospital, some seniors are unable to give up bad habits that negatively affect their health, such as drinking alcohol and using tobacco products. These substances can prevent medications from working, leading to readmission within the first 30 days of release. The toxic chemicals found in alcoholic beverages such as beer and tobacco products such as cigarettes could cause critical health issues for older adults, including hypertension and poor immune function. Promote healthy habits to lower your loved one’s risk of smoking or drinking alcohol, which include participating in fun activities, exercising, eating nutritious snacks, and attending senior support groups.
A professional caregiver can be a wonderful source of support for a senior who’s recovering after being hospitalized. Edmonton elderly home care 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. Trust your loved one’s care to the professionals at Home Care Assistance. To create a customized home care plan for your loved one, call (780) 490-7337 today.