Hospital to Home: The Importance of Transitional Care
After a long or even a short hospital stay, anyone appreciates the value of sleeping in one’s own bed. No one to wake you during the night, no more pokes, prods or beeps and buzzes. Just you – snuggled up under your own covers within the familiar sights and smells of home.
As wonderful as that sounds, there are a few things to consider regarding transitioning from a hospital back into the home. For many seniors, this process may be complicated depending on their circumstances.
Seniors are of special concern during this phase, especially those who suffer medical conditions and are required to take different medications at varying times of the day. Sending someone from a care facility such as a hospital, where around-the-clock monitoring is prevalent, to an environment where little or no interaction occurs requires advance planning to ensure the transition is smooth and safe.
Some things to consider include:
• The mobility of the senior
• Medical conditions that may need monitoring
• Administration of medicine(s)
• Future appointments with health care providers
Nutrition
Attention needs to be given to the mobility of the person going home. Challenges in that area should be addressed and solved before less-mobile seniors arrive home. Ensure walkways in the home are clear. Remove trip hazards such as rugs. Rearrange extension cords so they are not a hazard. Handrails in the bathroom can prevent falls.
Seniors recuperating from an illness may need assistance identifying symptoms in the days and weeks after coming home from the hospital. Ask friends and relatives to take turns visiting the senior each day to ensure the senior’s health is on the rise and not declining.
Proper administration of medications is essential for seniors required to take them even for a short period of time. Sometimes, if multiple medicines are needed, seniors may need help remembering time schedules. If personal help is unavailable, make the senior a daily calendar with each hour depicted. Pill dispensers can be used for this purpose, as well, and are the best option for ultimate safety to keep medications organized and aid in preventing accidental overdose.
Often after returning home from a hospital stay, visits to health care providers are scheduled to monitor the progress of those on the mend. Help seniors remember these appointments by penciling them in your own calendar. Call seniors with friendly reminders. Accompanying them to these scheduled visits further ensures these obligations are met and can also help keep you in the loop regarding any new medical care regimens that may be directed.
Seniors returning home from a hospital stay may be on a limited diet. Even if they are not, preparing and eating dinner for themselves may seem overwhelming at first. Help out by grocery shopping or preparing easy-to-heat meals which seniors can make with little or no fuss. Maintaining balanced nutrition is critical for seniors, but can be especially important for those who have had recent health issues.
Following the above tips can help pave the way to a positive transition from hospital to home. Successful transitions help eliminate returns to the hospital which are common when transitions are not well planned. If you are unable to assist a senior in need, now might be the time to hire a home care provider, such as Comfort Keepers®. Comfort Keepers® attend to seniors in need on a full or part-time basis performing the aforementioned concerns.
Myles McNamara, owner of Comfort Keepers In-Home Care, works professionally with seniors and their families to keep seniors safely in their homes. He can be reached at 661-287-4200.
ADVERTISE WITH US
51st Annual Frontier Toyota Henry Mayo Golf Classic Tee Up For A Good Time
Henry Mayo Newhall Hospital’s signature fundraising event is in full swing, we look forward to seeing everyone on Saturday, May 11th! The 51st Annual Frontier Toyota Henry Mayo Golf Classic will be held at the beautiful Valencia Country Club Our Golf Classic benefits...
Travel the World in 2024 with “Celebrate” Journey to New Destinations Monthly at the Canyon Country Community Center
There is so much to learn from different customs and cultures and you don’t need a plane ticket to experience it all. The Celebrate event series is back for its anticipated third year and offers insights into unique destinations from around the world. Every...
Monthly Message from Mayor Cameron Smyth Buckle up for the 2024 Cowboy Festival!
The aroma of savory barbecue wafting through the air, the joy of line dancing with friends and the chance to travel back in time to the Wild West are all experiences that make the City of Santa Clarita Cowboy Festival so unique. April 20 marks the return of...
ABOUT THE MAGAZINE
Santa Clarita Magazine has set a high standard for excellence in advertising for over 34 years. A family owned and operated business, Santa Clarita Magazine has grown with the Santa Clarita Valley since 1990 and become the #1 place to advertise locally.
FOLLOW US
SANTA CLARITA MAGAZINE
PO Box 801570
Valencia Ca 91380
For Advertising information
Call or Text: 1 (661) 294-4444