How Can Professional Senior Care Ease Hospital Transitions for Older Adults in Eldersburg, MD, and Nearby Cities?
Learn how senior care services from Visiting Angels makes the transition back home from the hospital less stressful for seniors in Eldersburg, Westminster, Baltimore, Columbia, Ellicott City and surrounding areas in Maryland
Hospital stays can be challenging for seniors. Whether it’s an overnight visit or an extended stay, time away from the comforts of home can diminish a senior’s sense of normalcy and well-being. The last thing seniors want is to return to the hospital.
Unfortunately, roughly 20 percent of seniors on Medicare are readmitted within 30 days of a hospital discharge due to preventable factors such as:
- Medication issues
- Falls and accidents
- Missed medical appointments
- Disregarding diet recommendations
What to Ask During the Discharge Process
The hospital discharge process can happen quickly. You may have waited for hours to leave and suddenly you’re walking down the hospital corridor heading for your car with new prescriptions to fill and your uneasy loved one in a wheelchair. Getting clear instructions before you leave can help reduce the odds of a hospital readmission.
Learn what questions to ask and consider professional home care services from Visiting Angels Eldersburg to assist in your transition.
- What should I know about my loved one’s condition?
Request information from the hospital staff. Understand their diagnosis and what kind of care they received in the hospital. Learn which symptoms will require follow-up from a medical professional. - Are there medication changes?
Medication errors are the main cause of readmittance to the hospital. Ask for a list of prescribed medications. Make sure you understand the dosages and recommended times. Also, confirm which medications your loved one should no longer take. - Are follow-up appointments scheduled?
Get a list of upcoming medical appointments and mark them on your calendar. Follow-up appointments will ensure recovery is on track and prevent a return trip to the hospital. If possible, attend these appointments with your loved one. - What additional support is needed?
Many seniors need non-medical support, such as help with mobility, personal hygiene or light housekeeping. Ask hospital staff what kind of in-home senior care they recommend for your loved one. Also, find out what tasks they should be able to do on their own. Failure to accomplish these tasks could be a sign of worsening health. If you think your loved one would benefit from personalized in-home support as they recover, consider Visiting Angels Eldersburg for expert professional home care services. - Request written, step-by-step discharge instructions.
Make sure to get clear, easy-to-understand documented instructions from the hospital. If you don’t understand the instructions, review them with the staff. Make copies so both you and your loved one have the same information.
How Senior Care from Visiting Angels Eldersburg Can Help Your Loved One
Many family caregivers underestimate the support needed at home for seniors to continue recovering. Although, with proper support and planning, you can reduce the risk of re-hospitalization. For extra assistance, consider the Ready-Set-Go Home program from Visiting Angels Eldersburg, which helps seniors transition from hospital to home safely.
Our experienced senior care providers offer:
- In-home care provided according to your loved one’s schedule, from short-term care to 24-hour care
- Medication reminders and pharmacy pickups
- Monitoring and reporting changes in health condition
- Scheduling and attending medical appointments
- Grocery shopping and nutritious meal preparation
If you’d like to learn how our senior care services can help your loved one recover after being discharged, call Visiting Angels Eldersburg at 410-549-8002.