Professional Caregivers Can Clearly Ease any Hospital-to-Home Transition
Surgeries, recoveries and long-term hospital stays can cause stress and anxiety for patients and caregivers alike. What many don’t anticipate are the stresses and problems that can come from the transition from that hospital bed back to their home. The complications that can arise from this change in environment are multi-faceted and contribute to what has come to be known as the ‘revolving door’ of hospital re-admissions.
The revolving door has grown so problematic that nearly one in five senior patients is back at the hospital within thirty days of leaving. Many of these re-admissions are avoidable when there is a plan created for a seamless transition to the home – and a care plan when they get there. Home health care companies can fill in this gap as caregivers, helping to prevent such common re-admission causing illnesses as infections, pneumonia, heart failure and even heart attacks.
Easing transitional troubles upfront
Encourage communication between hospital nurses, primary care doctors and home caregivers to ensure seamless treatments. Fully understand all the illnesses and the importance of specific treatments; this will help avoid confusion and ensure that necessary medications aren’t inadvertently discontinued. Keep in mind the importance of the discharge process. While many patients are understandably eager to leave the hospital and be home, being in too much of a hurry can make them miss important points and result in fragmented communication.
Home health care professionals can aid in the transition period
Families typically feel at least some initial anxiety about hiring a home health care company to care for their loved one after having just been released from a hospital. Understandable for sure; you are opening your home up to an unknown entity and trusting the care of someone you care about to them. But an extra, experienced set of hands and eyes can dramatically lessen the risk of re-admission for your loved one. Bringing in a home health care company requires creating a partnership that the patient must be willing to actively participate in, so it is important to gauge your loved one’s comfort level with the idea of a home health care company and work to help them approach the situation in a positive way. Second, find a home health care company with an experience level that you feel comfortable with. If your loved one has any pre-existing complications, look for a home health care company with a history of handling patients with those conditions. Both of these measures help to ensure your loved one’s safety and comfort.
Companies like Safe Care Home Support regularly help fill in the gap between hospital and home for either short-or long-term periods, depending on the family’s specific needs. Look for organizations that go above and beyond with their training requirements for home health care companies. All reputable home care companies, including Safe Care Home Support, ensure that caregivers pass a comprehensive background check and proven training. It is our experience that this extra training results in home health aides who are more caring, compassionate and knowledgeable. Creating a successful transition from the hospital to the home requires strong planning, extensive communications, simple precautions and deliberate steps. But having an experienced caregiver in the home can help to eliminate almost all of the common pitfalls and traps that ambush so many that are unprepared and trying to do things on their own.
In the end, it comes down to the price you pay for these professional services… versus the price you pay for your own health and well-being and the ‘price’ of re-admitting your loved one.