One in five Medicare patients returns to the hospital within 30 days of discharge, a significant source of concern for seniors and their families. Medical issues are a factor, but many readmissions are due to conditions that could have been identified earlier if the senior had been properly monitored at home. This is where post-hospital care services come in, where trained caregivers offer support while seniors recover and ensure any issues are discovered sooner rather than later.
Understanding the Risks
The weeks after a senior leaves the hospital are a time when they are most at risk. Medications may have changed, new constraints may make it harder to move around, and underlying diseases need to be watched closely.
Without post-hospital care in place, watching for warning signs, small problems might quickly turn into emergencies that lead to another hospital stay. Additionally, caregivers can help family members and even seniors recognize signs that signal something is not quite right.
Medication Management Is Key
Problems with medications are one of the most common reasons why seniors go back to the hospital. When discharged, they are often sent home with new prescriptions, as well as changes to what they were taking before they were admitted.
Professional post-hospital care providers ensure prescriptions are dispensed correctly and on time, and, more importantly, monitor for side effects and potentially harmful medication interactions that might not have been detected earlier.
Monitoring for Infections and Wound Issues
Infections after surgery and problems with wounds are two other reasons why seniors may have to return to the hospital. Caregivers providing post-hospital care are trained to keep an eye on incision sites and spot the first signs of infection, such as increased redness, warmth, edema, or unusual drainage. They also know that a low-grade fever or a sudden change in the way a wound looks shouldn’t be overlooked.
Additionally, trained caregivers watch for signs of urinary tract infections, pneumonia, and other common infections that could occur after a hospital stay. This is key, as these things can have more impact on seniors than they would on younger people. Early detection means that treatment can be done on an outpatient basis instead of in an emergency room.
Detecting Changes in Function and Vital Signs
Caretakers also monitor seniors’ vital signs and changes in function that could mean things are becoming worse. They notice when breathing becomes harder, when the legs get more swollen, or when the senior abruptly stops eating. When these things are noted, they document them and let family members and the medical team know, making it possible to take action before conditions deteriorate even more.
In addition to physical signs, post-hospital care providers can also spot changes in the senior’s thoughts and feelings. If the senior becomes more confused, withdrawn, or has unexpected mood swings, it could be a sign of a medical problem, such as an electrolyte imbalance or a reaction to medicine, that needs to be checked out by a doctor.
Caregivers trained in post-hospital care offer much more than assistance with daily tasks. They monitor for issues and take action if the senior’s condition worsens so they can continue to recover at home and not end up in the hospital once again.
If you or an aging loved one is considering Post-Hospital Care in Carrboro, NC, please contact the caring staff at Affordable Family Care.
Serving Raleigh, Greensboro, and the surrounding areas in North Carolina. Call today at (919) 676-1070
Sources:
- https://health.usnews.com/health-care/patient-advice/articles/2017-08-08/what-you-could-learn-from-hospitals-strategies-to-reduce-readmissions
- https://www.hopkinsmedicine.org/patient-safety/readmissions
- https://pointclickcare.com/blog/our-markets/providers/hospitals-health-systems/strategies-for-reducing-hospital-readmissions/#:~:text=Follow%20Up%20with%20Patients%20after,outreach%20method%20to%20prevent%20rehospitalization.
- https://vitalrecord.tamu.edu/top-five-interventions-to-avoid-hospital-readmissions/
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