As seniors age, they are more likely to end up in the hospital. This is because of falls, an infection that doesn’t heal, or a virus that they can’t fight off, to name just a few risks.
Statistics show that home health care can make a huge difference. According to a study conducted by one insurance company, home care following a hospital visit can reduce the likelihood of readmission by a whopping twenty-five percent.
Medications Compliance Can Be Difficult
Many patients are discharged from the hospital with pages and pages of instructions. Hospital staff often read through these instructions quickly so that they can move on to the next patient. Patients, who are often debilitated from their hospital stay, can struggle to make sense of all these directives.
This is particularly a problem when they can’t figure out what medications to take at what times and how much to take. In fact, mistakes in taking medications is one of the most common reasons that patients end up back in the hospital.
Quite a few patients are sent home from the hospital with a mandate to give themselves a shot. For people who weren’t trained in healthcare, this can be difficult. Just the ability to get a needle past the skin is difficult for some seniors, especially if they have a needle phobia, as many people do.
Home health care personnel are extremely useful in deciphering medication instructions. They can create online and print calendars to keep a patient on schedule. They’re good at filling pill boxes to ensure compliance with doses and timing. And, of course, they are going to find it easier to give an injection than your senior does. Some home health care professionals can even administer intravenous fluids as needed.
Timely Responses to Health Problems
Another service that home health care pros provide is timely consultation with a doctor or physical therapist if a senior is in trouble. For example, if a senior’s temperature spikes after being sent home, the home health care aide gets on the phone to a doctor. If the patient is showing balance problems, the aide gets on the phone to a physical therapist.
These aides also keep family in the loop. If there is a need for unexpected follow-up medical care, the aide will let you know. Often treatments can be administered at home at a lower price than what it would cost to readmit your senior to the hospital.
In conclusion, a hospital visit for a senior can be traumatic. And the danger of readmission is high if the patient does not fully understand and comply with all discharge directives. Mistakes in taking prescribed medications often causes a patient to end up back in the hospital. Home health care can definitely bridge the gap between what a patient is able to accomplish on his own and what he can accomplish with help.
Sources
https://www.healthleadersmedia.com/clinical-care/how-health-systems-can-use-home-care-reduce-readmissions
https://www.adventhealth.com/hospital/adventhealth-tampa/blog/how-fear-needles-starts-and-how-you-can-overcome-it
If you or an aging loved-one are considering home health care in Cherry Hills, CO, please contact the caring staff at SYNERGY HomeCare today. Call us at (303) 756-9322.
