Post-Hospital Care
While your entire family might be ready to celebrate your loved one's return home from the hospital, for you, it means the challenge of caring for them will be starting. After your loved one is discharged from the hospital and comes home, the real work of providing them with much-needed post-hospital care services begins. To make it work, you will need the help of your family, their doctor, and a Harmony Haven caregiver. Our caregivers are trained in transitional care and willing to impart their knowledge to you.
Seniors in the US suffer very high readmission rates.
- The cost of readmission to the U.S. healthcare system is over $17 billion, not including those coming from urgent-care facilities and emergency rooms.
- One in five seniors will be readmitted to the hospital within 30 days.
- 25% of seniors discharged to nursing homes have a higher risk of readmission within 30 days.
75% of these readmissions can be prevented.
Most Family Caregivers Have No Idea
It's true; most family caregivers have no idea how much hard work goes into caring for a senior loved one. They jump in with both feet thinking it should be easy, only to find out the task involves far more work than they dreamed of. This is where a caregiver from Harmony Haven can help keep your head above water and give you time to think.
More Than Pretty Faces
Our caregivers are far more than just another person who is there to provide the minimum help. Along with helping you to offer transitional senior home care services for your loved one, our caregivers can also help with the following:
- Personal care services include bathing, grooming, mobility assistance, incontinence support, etc.).
- Homemaking services (decluttering, light house cleaning, laundry, dishes, meal planning & cooking, etc.).
- Transportation to appointments and taking care of numerous errands.
- Continuous health monitoring and communication between the family, doctors, rehabilitation specialists, etc.
- Companionship and emotional support throughout their recovery journey.
Readmission Are All Too Common
The first 180 days post-discharge offer the highest risk to seniors for readmission. There are several reasons for this. The most common of these are:
- Medications – concerning the taking of new medication that causes adverse side effects and those who do not take their medication as instructed, resulting in adverse side effects.
- Limited Access to Appropriate Post Hospital Care – covering those with limited transportation to appointments, picking up needed medications, and having the daily support they need.
- Severity and Type of Medical Condition – covering those in the late stages of a medical condition or suffering from a chronic condition such as heart disease or Alzheimer's.
- Lack of Education by Medical Team – covers those who did not receive the proper transition home care education by the patient's medical care team before they came home.
- Secondary Diagnoses – covering those patients who develop a medical condition or display severe symptoms not seen during hospitalization.
Keeping Records Is Very Important
If possible, you should try to obtain a copy of your loved one's medical records from their hospital stay. Not only do they contain a wealth of important information, but you can use them to design your record-keeping system as part of your transitional senior home care services. This is something our caregivers can help you with. Keeping accurate records can make a massive difference if the time comes when you need to contact your doctor. Your records should include the following:
- A schedule that includes all family caregivers, when they will be there, and what they need to do.
- A list of appointments, what was discussed, and what, if anything, was done.
- A record of all medications, when they need to be taken, and the correct dosage.
- Contact information, including caregivers and emergency contacts.
Creating a Safe Place for Your Loved One to Recover In
Before your loved one comes home, your role in providing care starts with ensuring your loved one has a safe, clean home to recover in. Your Harmony Haven caregiver can assist you by helping to:
- Make sure the house is clean and disinfected, eliminating allergens and bacteria.
- Introduce your loved one to their transitional home care provider before they are discharged.
- Make sure furniture is arranged to make room for any mobility equipment.
- Create a care plan schedule that lets your loved ones know who will be with them and when.
- Place items that are used daily within easy reach.
- Install any needed safety equipment.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why Should I Consider In-Home Care?
In home care keeps the patient at home in familiar surroundings. The comfort of "home" makes patients feel safe along with the added benefit of decreased contraction of infections normally associated with hospital or nursing home settings. Home care promotes on-going independence for all patients. We strive to enrich your life by preserving your independence and treating you with compassion. At Harmony Haven - our nurses and home health aides work together to provide exceptional home care services while keeping your provider and family aware of your progress. Our home healthcare team strives to keep you or your family member independent and functioning- on your own, in your home.
When Should I Consider In-Home Care?
When loved ones are at an age or stage of needing more help than they will sometimes admit, or than your family is able to provide, that's where we step in. Issues that may indicate a need for home care assistance include: - Your loved one has trouble getting dressed or fastening clothing - Toileting and bathing present complications for your loved one - They are unable to prepare meals or need frequent assistance - Nutritional needs are not being met due to problems with eating - Medications are sometimes missed or forgotten - Walking requires assistance or frequent falls occur - Household chores are being ignored or present difficulty - A pre-existing or new diagnosis require on-going medical attention
Are Patient Families Involved In The Process?
We provide home healthcare based on the client's medical, personal and situational needs. The client and family are included in all steps of creating the plan of care, and are encouraged to let staff know when changes occur so that the plan may be updated to meet the client's current needs. Harmony Haven staff will also notify other care providers of the changes.