Private Home Care Eases Hospital Transitions for Seniors in Littleton!

How Can Private Home Care Services From Visiting Angels Ease Hospital Transitions For Seniors?

• Learn how our private home care services make returning home from the hospital easier and less stressful for seniors in Littleton, Englewood, Centennial, Parker and nearby areas in Colorado.
  
• Learn which questions to ask during the discharge process and consider professional senior care services from Visiting Angels Littleton to assist in your senior loved one's transition.
  
• Understand your senior loved one's diagnosis and what kind of care they received in the hospital.
  
• Ask hospital staff what kind of private home care services they recommend for your loved one.
  
• Count on Visiting Angels Littleton for expert in-home senior care that can help your loved one complete everyday tasks.
  
• For extra assistance, consider enrolling in the Ready-Set-Go Home program from Visiting Angels Littleton, which helps seniors transition from hospital to home safely.
  
  If you'd like to learn more about the private home care services included in the Ready-Set-Go Home program, call our Littleton, CO office at 720-410-9430.

Learn how our private home care services make returning home from the hospital easier and less stressful for seniors in Littleton, Englewood, Centennial, Parker and nearby areas in Colorado.

Hospital stays can be challenging for aging adults. 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 You Should Ask During Your Loved One’s Hospital Discharge

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 hospital readmission.

Learn which questions to ask during the discharge process and consider professional senior care services from Visiting Angels Littleton to assist in your senior loved one’s transition.

• What should I know about my loved one’s condition?
  Request information from the hospital staff. Understand your senior loved one’s 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 seniors being readmitted 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 does my loved one need?
  Many seniors need non-medical support, such as help with mobility, personal hygiene or light housekeeping. Ask hospital staff what kind of private home care services 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. Count on Visiting Angels Littleton for expert in-home senior care that can help your loved one complete everyday tasks.
  
• 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.

The Benefits of Private Home Care Services for Seniors Returning Home from the Hospital

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 enrolling in the Ready-Set-Go Home program from Visiting Angels Littleton, which helps seniors transition from hospital to home safely.

Our private home care services for seniors transitioning from hospital to home include:

• Care that fits your loved one’s schedule, from short-term visits 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 more about the private home care services included in the Ready-Set-Go Home program, call our Littleton, CO office at 720-410-9430.