
The first 30 days following a senior’s discharge from the hospital are critical for their recuperation. Many seniors confront challenges during this time, such as mobility problems, confusion regarding new medications, and simply adjusting to daily life at home with a new routine. Home care services can help ensure a smooth transition, offering post hospital care that lowers the risk of readmission and improves general well-being.
The First 30 Days
Following a hospital visit, seniors often struggle with many things, including exhaustion, confusion, frustration, and discomfort. Without proper post hospital care services, these issues can result in complications, falls, and even readmission. Home care offers valuable assistance, allowing seniors to recuperate securely and comfortably.
Here are a few of the key benefits that post hospital care from a home care agency offers during that first month:
- Personalized Assistance: Home care provides assistance to seniors based on their specific needs, such as bathing, clothing, or meal preparation.
- Medication Management: Seniors may require new medications or a change in their medication routine following a hospital visit. Caregivers can remind them to take their prescriptions on time and in the appropriate amounts, lowering the chance of complications.
- Mobility Support: Home care helps recuperating seniors walk about the house, reducing the risk of falls.
- Nutritional Support: Proper nutrition is essential for recovery. Caregivers can help seniors with meal planning, grocery shopping, and more.
- Companionship and Emotional Support: Recovering from a hospital stay can be isolating. Caregivers provide much-needed companionship, which alleviates feelings of loneliness.
- Monitoring and Communication: Caregivers can monitor a senior’s development and notify family members or the medical team if any unusual symptoms appear.
After the First Month: Continuing the Recovery Journey
While the first 30 days are essential, seniors may require continuous help to fully regain independence. In these instances, post hospital care from home care providers continues to be beneficial, offering long-term benefits that focus on maintaining seniors’ health and well-being.
Some of the long-term advantages of post hospital care may include the following:
- Rehabilitation Support: Many seniors require physical therapy or specialized rehabilitation. Caregivers can assist with exercises and offer transportation to therapy appointments.
- Chronic Disease Management: Ongoing care ensures that seniors have assistance managing conditions such as diabetes, heart disease, or dementia, among others.
- Household Assistance: Daily tasks such as cleaning, laundry, and grocery shopping might continue to be a challenge. Home care ensures that seniors have a clean, orderly, and safe environment.
- Social Engagement: Maintaining social activity is beneficial for mental wellness. Caregivers can help with this by transporting seniors to community events and encouraging them to visit with friends or try out various hobbies.
Choosing the Right Post Hospital Care Services
When selecting post hospital care for a senior, loved ones will need to consider factors such as the level of care that is needed, whether that be medical, non-medical, or both, the qualifications of the caregiver, their ability to create a tailored plan, and reviews of the service to ensure the best match.
The transition from the hospital to the home is a delicate process for seniors, requiring thoughtful planning regarding post hospital care, not just for the first 30 days but beyond. During this time, post hospical care can be extremely beneficial for their recovery by providing medication management, mobility assistance, dietary care, and companionship.
If you or an aging loved one is considering Post Hospital Care in San Francisco, CA, please contact the caring staff at Aviva In-Home Care today at (415) 463-1400
Aviva In-Home Care provides exceptional senior home care in the Bay Area, including San Francisco, Burlingame, San Mateo, Hillsborough, Atherton, Menlo Park, Palo Alto, Berkeley, Lafayette, Orinda, and surrounding areas.
Sources:
- https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC7659222/#:~:text=80%20and%20over-,Background,of%20early%20readmissions%20is%20required.
- https://www.healthinaging.org/blog/dementia-increases-the-risk-of-30-day-readmission-to-the-hospital-after-discharge/
- https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC9597142/
- https://www.jeffersonhealth.org/your-health/living-well/the-mental-and-physical-effects-of-a-hospital-stay-on-seniors
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