{"id":855,"date":"2025-07-08T18:55:35","date_gmt":"2025-07-08T18:55:35","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/synergyhomecare.com\/ca-corona-92881\/?p=855"},"modified":"2025-09-04T22:40:15","modified_gmt":"2025-09-04T22:40:15","slug":"post-hospitalization-recovery-rehabilitation-in-home-care-why-it-matters-corona-riverside","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/synergyhomecare.com\/ca-corona-92881\/knowledge-center\/post-hospitalization-recovery-rehabilitation-in-home-care-why-it-matters-corona-riverside\/","title":{"rendered":"Post-Hospitalization, Recovery and Rehabilitation In-Home Care: Why it Matters- CORONA\/ RIVERSIDE"},"content":{"rendered":"

By Gabrielle Brackett, MS, MPH <\/strong><\/p>\n

Visits to the doctor \u2013 and even the emergency room \u2013 are sometimes inevitable throughout the aging process. According to research provided AARP<\/a>, the top eight health issues that cause older adults to get admitted to the hospital include:<\/p>\n

Cardiac arrhythmias.<\/strong>\u00a0These heartbeat irregularities such as atrial fibrillation can cause palpitations, a sudden drop in blood pressure that can lead to unconsciousness, stroke and even sudden\u00a0cardiac arrest. In 2009, 543,000 adults over the age of 65 were hospitalized for an irregular heartbeat.<\/p>\n

Congestive heart failure.\u00a0<\/strong>In 2009, 751,000 adults over 65 entered the hospital for congestive heart failure. Why so prominent? One reason is that people are living longer with heart disease, which over time damages or weakens the heart muscle, which can lead to heart failure \u2014 the heart\u2019s inability to pump well.<\/p>\n

Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD).<\/strong> In 2008, 822,500 people with COPD, age 40 and over, entered a hospital.\u00a0Smoking is the primary culprit behind COPD, an umbrella term that encompasses emphysema and chronic bronchitis.<\/p>\n

Coronary atherosclerosis.<\/strong>\u00a0In 2009, 753,000 adults over 45 were hospitalized for coronary atherosclerosis, or a blockage of blood flow to the heart from the build-up of fatty plaque. That could cause a\u00a0heart attack, resulting in heart damage, or simply chest pain from lessened blood flow that hasn\u2019t yet led to permanent damage.<\/p>\n

Diabetes.<\/strong>\u00a0In 2009, 655,000 adults entered the hospital because of diabetes. Being overweight, inactive and age 45 and older are three prominent risk factors for type 2, or adult-onset, diabetes. Common reasons for hospitalization due to diabetes include strokes, heart attacks, ulcers and dehydration from elevated blood sugar levels.<\/p>\n

Infection.<\/strong>\u00a0Pneumonia is the most common infection (see below) but urinary tract infections are common as well. In 2011, the estimated total number of infections in hospitals reached more than 721,000, according to the CDC<\/a>.<\/p>\n

Medication problems.\u00a0<\/strong>Drug reactions of some sort led to 4.6 million drug-related emergency department visits in 2009, according to the National Institute on Drug Abuse<\/a>. Medications most commonly involved: corticosteroids, blood thinners, sedatives and sleep aids.<\/p>\n

Pneumonia.<\/strong>\u00a0Pneumonia caused 674,000 visits to emergency departments in 2013, according to the CDC<\/a>. As we age, our waning immune system makes us more vulnerable to both bacterial and viral pneumonia. Other conditions like diabetes, stroke and flu can predispose you to pneumonia as well.<\/p>\n

Stroke.<\/strong>\u00a0About\u00a0795,000\u00a0people in the United States have a stroke each year, according to the CDC<\/a>. When blood flow is cut off to part of the brain \u2014 because of a clot in an artery or a blood vessel that burst \u2014 the result is a\u00a0stroke, which kills brain cells and can lead to death.<\/p>\n

Getting admitted to the hospital for any illness, ailment or fall is a stressful, frightening life event. If your senior parent finds themselves in the hospital for a serious health issue, it\u2019s time to plan for their return home. To ensure that they recover from their hospital stay, it\u2019s important to plan accordingly. If your senior parent lives alone, it may be time to call SYNERGY HomeCare Corona, Riverside or Anaheim Hills. Our home health caregivers provide top-notch, compassionate and attentive services to ensure your loved one enjoys a complete and speedy recovery at home. Our home health caregivers offer a variety of wellness services, including:<\/p>\n