The Importance of Transitional Care for Seniors Returning Home from the Hospital

Having the right non-medical home health care partner on your side can make all the difference in your loved one’s recovery. Count on Visiting Angels to provide the support you need in Eastern Montgomery County, PA

If your loved one has been hospitalized, preventing readmission should be a priority. First of all, hospital stays can be pricey. Second of all, your parent might contract some other disease while spending time in the hospital. In order to maintain their independence and help them age at home for as long as possible, avoiding readmission is necessary.

With home health care services delivered by Visiting Angels, your loved one can recover safely at home with the help and assistance they deserve.

Risk Factors for Readmission

There are several factors that can increase the odds of hospital readmission. According to a 2011 review of 11 studies, socioeconomic status, chronic illness and mental disability can all increase the likelihood of readmission.

In addition, factors such as previous hospital admission, long hospital stay, widowhood, social isolation, lack of support, living in a home for the elderly, medications, mental issues, cognitive disability, incontinence as well as frequent falls can increase the chances of readmission.

Planning to Prevent: Know Your Post-Op Plan

Even though the list of risk factors may seem daunting, there are still several things you can do to keep your loved one out of the hospital. The first one is figuring out what level of care your parent requires. Although doctors will create a discharge plan, following it can be a challenge, especially if you cannot keep an eye on your parent at all times.

Start asking about your loved one’s discharge plans while they are still at the hospital, so you can find the right home health care provider. Before you take your parent home, make sure that all off the follow-up appointments have been scheduled. This way, you’ll have an idea of when caregivers will be needed and can choose the best schedule of care

You will need to keep in mind that your senior may need a lot of assistance and support during their recovery, bringing in a home health care agency like Visiting Angels may prove to be beneficial.

Ready, Set, GO! Home

At Visiting Angels we offer a Ready-Set-Go Home program to seniors recovering after a hospital stay. With help from our trained caregivers your parent will receive high-quality, non-medical transitional care and coordination during their discharge.

This program begins in the hospital, where we will assess your parent’s needs, limitations and abilities, receive vital feedback and become familiar with a doctor’s discharge plan. After your loved one has been discharged from the hospital, our caregivers will provide them with care and support they need to fully recover. In addition, our office staff will help you manage all the different aspects of successful discharge.

With our home health care you can lower the likelihood of readmission and keep your loved one healthy and at home. If you wish to learn more about our home care services, please contact our office in Jenkintown, PA.