The Importance of Transitional Care for Seniors Returning Home from the Hospital
Non-medical home health care services can help your loved one safely get back to their daily routine, aiding in a comfortable recovery at home
After a loved one gets discharged from a hospital, taking steps to avoid readmission is necessary. Hospital stays are often expensive, and seniors can contract a serious disease during their stay.
In order to keep your loved one safe and help them remain independent, securing essential transitional care and reducing the likelihood of readmission is extremely important. With home health care services from Visiting Angels your parent can recover safely at home where they will receive assistance and support from our trained, skilled and compassionate caregivers.
Risk Factors for Readmission
According to the Medicare Payment Advisory Commission 75% of re-admissions could be avoided. Many studies have shown that a lot of factors can increase the chances of readmission, such as socioeconomic status, chronic illness, and mental disability. Other factors also include widowhood, social isolation, lack of family support, living in a nursing home, number of medications prescribed, mental problems, cognitive disability, frequent falls as well as incontinence.
The Importance of Transitional Care
Hospitals can do their part in reducing readmission, but once your loved one gets home, it is up to you and them to determine what will happen. The first thing you will need to decide is what level of care your parent will require.
Of course, doctors will provide a discharge plan that will give you a better idea of exactly what types of things your loved one will need help with. However, following it can be challenging, especially if you cannot commit to being your loved one’s full-time caregiver. This is when our home health care services can be of assistance.
Finding Helpful Recovery Care
There are a few ways you can help your loved one avoid readmission. When they are admitted to the hospital, start asking about their discharge plan. This way you can be prepared for everything that’s coming and plan a safe discharge for your parent
Before you take them home make sure that your loved one has received straightforward and easy discharge instructions and that all of the important follow-up appointments have been scheduled.
Nevertheless, no matter how prepared you are, your senior will most likely need more assistance and support then you are able to provide. Luckily, with home health care services your parent can get back on their feet and recover in a safe and comfortable environment.
At Visiting Angels we offer Ready-Set-Go Home program to seniors in Aspen Hill, MD. Our caregivers are trained to provide high-quality, non-medical transitional care during discharge and therefore keep your loved one out of the hospital.
If you wish to learn more about our home health care services, call our office today.