As seniors age, they are more likely to end up in the hospital. This is because of falls, an infection that doesn\u2019t heal, or a virus that they can\u2019t fight off, to name just a few risks.<\/p>\n
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.<\/p>\n
Medications Compliance Can Be Difficult<\/strong><\/p>\n 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.<\/p>\n This is particularly a problem when they can\u2019t 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.<\/p>\n Quite a few patients are sent home from the hospital with a mandate to give themselves a shot. For people who weren\u2019t 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.<\/p>\n 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\u2019re 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.<\/p>\n