Home safety is a key component when focusing on senior health and wellness. This is especially true when returning home from the hospital. For many, going home after being hospitalized can increase the risk of health complications. Unfortunately, nearly 1 in 6 discharged Medicare patients are often readmitted within 30 days.
Taking an active role in home safety and wellness can help senior family members recuperate and avoid another hospital stay. While this isn’t a complete list, it will provide helpful advice to prevent hospitalization for seniors and maintain independence.
- Keep Medical Information Up-to-Date
Errors can usually be traced to a patient’s medication history. To keep track of all medications, many hospitals have their pharmacists review medications to identify duplicates, counteract other medicines, or pose other health complications. Taking an active part in your older family members’ health can help avoid medication errors. Keep a medical history, including prescriptions, over-the-counter, and supplements. - Medication Reminders Can Go Along Way
Remembering to take medication regularly can be a challenge. Once at home, your loved one must follow the doctor’s instructions and take all medication provided. If managing medication timing is difficult, many in-home care programs provide medication reminders as part of a care plan. - Transportation is Critical to Accessing Care
It can be difficult for many seniors to go to doctors because they can no longer drive or have reliable transportation. For discharged patients, various transportation options can help out. Non-emergency medicational transportation is available for seniors. - Consider Home Safety to Prevent Falls
Returning home from the hospital can be difficult as many patients are not as steady on their feet. It is also possible to return home with equipment such as a walker, oxygen, or additional assistive equipment that might take time to grow accustomed to using. The Westchester Family Care Fall Prevention Guide provides useful tips to help you lessen the risk of falling for seniors and prepare the home for returning from the hospital. - Have Healthy Foods Available
Eating healthy, nutritious foods can increase the chances of recuperating faster. The risk of malnutrition in seniors increases if it is difficult for them to buy groceries or make their own meals. If your loved one had a poor appetite or difficulty chewing or swallowing, they might not be getting the proper nutrition needed. You can ask your loved one’s doctor or nutritionist about resources to help meet their nutritional needs during recovery.
Creating a Transition Plan for Hospital to Home Care
Helping patients recuperate safely at home all starts by creating a plan. To help make the transition from hospital to home care easier, home health care companies like Westchester Family Care offer discharge programs. The whole goal of a discharge plan is to improve the recovery process and prevent rehospitalization, especially within the next 30 days after discharge.
How Does the Hospital to Home Care Process Work?
A discharge plan is a holistic approach that includes follow-up care, assistance attending appointments, medication needs, and more. Medicare requires hospitals to provide discharge planning for inpatients when necessary.
Programs from trusted home care companies make it easier to bundle care, transportation, and medication management together to increase the success of recovery. For example, the discharge plan from Westchester Family Care focus on these three main factors to prevent rehospitalization:
- Medication Adherence
Professional caregivers help ensure that patients take their medications as prescribed. Registered Nurses (RNs) are available to handle filling prescriptions and organizing medication in pillboxes. - Follow-up Care with Doctor
Our RNs work with doctors to help schedule appointments to ensure your older loved one receives the proper follow-up care. If transportation is a challenge, professional caregivers drive seniors to appointments. - Fall Prevention Services.
At the start of every discharge plan, our team provides a free home assessment to improve home safety. Preventing falls and providing a comfortable environment to recuperate is critical to help your loved one have a successful recovery.
Ready to State A Home Care Transition?
Our care team is always ready to answer any questions you have and help you with the process of getting in-home care. We can help with an immediate family need or when planning for future care! Contact Westchester Family Care today to get started.