After Hospital Care
Is your senior loved one currently in the hospital or preparing for a hospital stay? Hospital stays can be a stressful event for anyone, but seniors in particular face an elevated risk of complications that require them to be readmitted to the hospital. Current research shows that one in five seniors on Medicare are readmitted to the hospital within a month of discharge. At Visiting Angels of Coeur d’Alene, we offer our Ready, Set, Go after hospital care program that provides seniors with in-home care to help reduce the likelihood of hospital readmission or trips to the emergency room after being discharged from the hospital. The transition to living at home after being in the hospital can be challenging, but our caregivers are here to help ensure that your loved one has a smooth, safe, and lower-stress return home.
The staff at visiting Angels Coeur d'Alene have been nothing but kind, generous, and extraordinarily accommodating. They helped me navigate all of the little obstacles of long-distance caregiving. If I have a question, they are a phone call away with quick response time and solutions to any issues. I extend a special thank you to Drew and Jamie for their kindness and patience.
-B, Visiting Angels Client
Visiting Angels Post-Hospital Care
We help seniors in the Post Falls, Hayden, and Coeur d’Alene areas rest and recover after a hospital stay by assisting them with the day-to-day tasks that may be difficult following hospitalization. Our in-home recovery care providers can assist your loved one with things like:
- Personal grooming
- Bathing
- Dressing
- Toileting
- Mobility and transfers
- Running
- Meal preparation
- Light housekeeping
- Medication reminders
- Other routine activities
Our Angels are ready to provide your loved one with outstanding hospital aftercare services to care for their overall well-being as they heal. From fall prevention to palliative care to social companionship, we offer many different services to ensure that your loved one has their individual needs met. With our multi-shift 24/7 options, your loved one can even receive round-the-clock supervision from our caregivers at home.
Why Do Hospital Readmissions Happen?
There are several reasons why a senior might need to return to the hospital after discharge. Often, seniors deal with reduced ability after being hospitalized, which can make simple tasks seem overwhelming. This can be exacerbated by chronic conditions, illness, or lingering symptoms of the major health event that led to the initial hospitalization. Medical researchers have also begun recognizing a condition known as “post-hospitalization syndrome,” which increases the chance of rehospitalization because of impairment to the cardiovascular, cognitive, and immune functions of the body.
Symptoms of post-hospitalization syndrome include:
- Lingering fatigue
- Weakness
- Foggy thinking
- Bowel or bladder concerns
- Increased disorientation
- Disruptions to sleep patterns, diet, routines, and activity level
- Increased stress and anxiety
- Medication-related side effects
If your loved one is dealing with post-hospitalization syndrome, they may be more likely to experience a fall, relapse of their condition, or another adverse event. It may also become exceptionally difficult for them to handle daily tasks around the house without assistance, necessitating regular post-discharge care from either your family or a professional care provider.
A Helpful Guide to Hospital Discharge
To help your senior loved one better adjust as they leave the hospital, we’ve created the Ready, Set, Go Home Discharge Guide. This helpful guide can help you keep track of progress and challenges so that you can better communicate their needs to their doctors, nurses, post-acute care providers, and other medical professionals to assist with continuity of care. It also serves as an outstanding tool for helping our Visiting Angels caregivers construct an individualized bridge care program to help your senior loved one have a successful return from the hospital.
Learn More About Visiting Angels Post-Hospital Home Care Services Today
If you are potentially interested in having a Visiting Angels caregiver come to your loved one’s home to help them avoid hospital readmission, give us a call or reach out using our online contact form to schedule a free home care evaluation. We can answer all of your questions and provide you with any information you need to an informed decision about your loved one’s post-hospital care.
Serving Coeur d'Alene and Surrounding Areas
Visiting Angels COEUR D'ALENE, ID
1250 W Ironwood Dr #112Coeur d'Alene, ID 83814
Phone: 208-415-1000