5 Ways to Help Older Adults Transition Following a Hospital Stay

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Helping Seniors Adjust After a Hospital Stay in Edmonton, AB

If your senior loved one was recently hospitalized, he or she may find it difficult to adjust when returning home. Depending on the diagnosis and treatment plan, you may need to help your parent adapt to life at home after being in the hospital. Here are five tips for helping older adults transition after a hospital stay.

1. Order a Hospital Bed

In case your parent has been hospitalized as a result of a hip fracture and subsequent surgery, he or she probably participated in a physical therapy program. While hospital-based therapy programs help seniors regain some of their mobility after hip surgery, it may be many months before full mobility is restored. If your loved one is unable to climb the stairs to the bedroom, rent a hospital bed from a medical supply company so he or she can sleep in a bed on the first floor. Once your parent is confident enough to sleep in the upstairs bedroom, remove the hospital bed. 

Older adults who are recovering from a serious medical condition or an injury can benefit from professional in-home care. If your senior loved one needs hourly or live-in care, Edmonton Home Care Assistance can help. Our caregivers can assist with exercise and mobility, prepare nutritious meals, provide timely medication reminders, and help with a wide array of other important daily tasks.

2. Stock Up on Favorite Foods

While hospital food is nutritious, it may not appeal to your loved one’s taste buds. Before your parent arrives home from the hospital, stock the refrigerator with his or her favorite foods. Hospital stays can result in weight loss, and if your loved one is able to eat the foods he or she enjoys, lost weight may be regained in no time.

3. Consider Buying a Bedside Commode

Depending on the reason for hospitalization, your loved one may be unable to walk to the toilet. If this is the case, order a bedside commode so he or she can quickly use the bathroom. Using a bedside commode may also eliminate the risk for embarrassment if your loved one is unable to make it to the regular bathroom and has an accident on the floor. If your loved one is male, make sure to also supply a plastic urinal receptacle so he doesn’t need to get out of bed to urinate.

Many older adults require assistance with personal hygiene tasks. If your aging loved one needs occasional help with bathing, grooming, cooking, or other basic household tasks, or if you need time to attend to important personal matters, reach out to Home Care Assistance, a leading provider of live-in and respite care. Edmonton seniors can maintain their independence while living at home with the help of our reliable respite caregivers.

4. Encourage Frequent Rest Periods

Hospital stays are not always restful for seniors. They’re often awakened during the early morning hours for a vital signs check and sometimes have to submit to stressful diagnostic tests. If your loved one’s hospital room is close to the nurses’ station, he or she may hear talking and phones 24 hours a day. Provide frequent rest periods when your parent returns home from the hospital so he or she can catch up on some much-needed sleep.

5. Organize New Medications

When your loved one returns home from a hospital stay, he or she may have new prescription medications. Purchase a pill organizer so all new prescription medications can be incorporated with the old ones. Also, encourage your parent to let you know if he or she experiences any side effects from new medications so you can call the physician.

If your senior loved one needs help managing an illness or assistance with daily tasks, make sure you choose a top-rated provider of elder care. Edmonton Home Care Assistance is here to help your loved one live a happier and healthier life in the golden years. From the mentally stimulating activities in our Cognitive Therapeutics Method to our friendly Care Managers who are available to answer your questions 24 hours a day, we offer a wide array of high-quality at-home care services. To learn about our revolutionary in-home care methods, give us a call at (780) 490-7337 today.

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