When a doctor admits you or your senior loved one to a hospital or facility, you may not be thinking ahead to what will happen when the doctor eventually discharges you or your loved one. Just get through one day at a time, right?
But preparing in advance for a smooth transition home is vital to a successful recovery. When seniors lack an adequate care plan for their return home, they have a higher likelihood of being readmitted to the hospital, usually due to falls, medication mismanagement or failure to follow up with a doctor.
Planning considerations for a successful recovery include:
- Proper nutrition and medication management.
- Transportation and assistance for follow-up doctor appointments.
- Warning sign monitoring and communication.
- Exercise and physical therapy reminders.
- Assistance with bathing, dressing and using the bathroom.
- Mobility assistance.
- Emotionally and socially supportive companionship.
- Helping to keep the home clean and safe.
Clothing and footwear for the return home are also among the things to be considered. Loose, comfortable slacks and a button-front shirt are easy to slip on. Consider sneakers or low slip-on shoes with steady treads to prevent falls. The discharge process usually involves a ride in a wheelchair to the exit and then entering a vehicle. Make sure you understand any mobility issues so proper transportation can be obtained:
- Ask if standing, walking or sitting is possible and for how long.
- Find out if any medical equipment, such as wheelchair, IV or oxygen will need to accompany the patient.
- Is a family vehicle appropriate, or will a wheelchair van or ambulance be required?
If possible, make arrangements to have prescriptions filled and picked up in advance so the patient can be taken directly home. Restocking the pantry and picking up any special foods or medical supplies should also be done before discharge, if possible.
Evaluate the home environment for hidden dangers. Outside, make sure walkways and stairs are free of debris and swept clean. Handrails should be steady and free of chips or splinters. Remove any doormats that may cause tripping. Be sure that lighting is adequate and all bulbs are in working order and provide enough illumination.
Disorientation may be a concern on returning home. Some ways to make things clearer include installing large red and blue buttons over hot and cold water faucet controls to prevent dangerous mistakes. A dark green or brown toilet seat and vinyl tape around the shower will make those fixtures more easily distinguishable as well. Consider installing grab bars and a raised toilet. Safety devices, such as lock-in switches on stoves and thermostats, can prevent burns and fires from occurring.
Advance preparation can help avoid communication mistakes or misunderstandings by gathering important health information together in a binder or similar container. A partial list of documents that are important to have in one place includes:
- Contact names and numbers.
- Medication Tracker.
- Doctor visit information.
- Advance Directives such as Living Will and Durable Power of Attorney.
- Insurance Policies.
- Copy of Medicare/Medicaid Card.
Kits containing worksheets and checklists to help make the entire hospitalization and transitional process more efficient are available in downloadable form at www.caregiverstress.com. Search for “Senior Health Tracking Kit” and “Returning Home.”
Returning home should be a happy time. By taking proactive steps, you can help ensure the return home is safe as well. If assistance from family or friends is not an option, due to time or distance constraints, consider hiring an in-home care companion to help ensure a safe transition home. For more information, contact Home Instead Senior Care at 928-708-9960, or online at www.homeinstead.com/318. QCBN
Susan D. Abbott is the franchise owner for Home Instead Senior Care. She can be reached at
928-708-9960. For more information, visit www.homeinstead.com/318
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