By Dr. Macie Smith
So your loved one has gotten home from the hospital and they are still feeling a little off. If it was three or more days, they may have what is known as “hospital-associated deconditioning.” This refers to general weakness or loss of fitness because of not using muscles, which can happen due to bed rest and inactivity during hospitalization.
Here are some of the symptoms you may notice in your loved one:
• Weakness and tiredness
• Shortness of breath with minor physical effort
• A heartbeat that is faster than normal
• Pain or discomfort with activity
• Decreased strength, endurance and balance
• Difficulty doing your usual forms of exercise
These are all normal, but you have to help your loved one make a real effort to improve their strength, stamina, endurance, and balance. If you don’t, this weakened state could be permanent, which would significantly affect their future quality of life.
Here are a few tips:
Help your loved one maintain active involvement in their activities of daily living (ADLs). These include things like bathing, dressing and oral hygiene. Every little bit of activity helps to regain what has been lost. They may need some help at first, and that’s OK.
Remind them about prescribed exercises. Part of their discharge plan likely involves physical or occupational therapy at home. While the therapists may visit with for only 30 minutes at a time, your loved one will be encouraged to repeat home exercises and activities in between appointments. You can be their exercise buddy care to help them follow their recovery plan.
I know this is hard, but you have to be patient. As we get older, it gets harder to recover from health-related setbacks. Get feedback from your home health provider and therapists on how much time your recovery will likely take. Then you can pace yourself appropriately and not get discouraged.
Another thing you can do is use special equipment and home modifications to make your loved one’s recovery a little easier. Their doctor may prescribe things like a walker or a gait belt to help with walking, while their therapists will likely make recommendations for things like grab bars, a ramp, widening of doors, raised toilet seats, or specialized shoes, if appropriate.
The good news is that your loved one is home from the hospital and can continue to recover in the comfort of their own home. The time and energy you invest with them now will pay off for the long term.
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SYNERGY HomeCare offers no obligation home assessments. Find a location near you or contact us to learn how we can provide additional support to you and your loved ones.
Dr. Macie P. Smith is a licensed gerontology social worker who is focused on helping families support their aging loved ones through long-term care. Specifically, Dr. Smith educates caregivers on how to care for seniors with dementia. She is an advocate for specialized care and assists others in finding a way to provide a better quality of life for individuals with Alzheimer’s or dementia. Dr. Smith has dedicated over 22 years of her life working in gerontology and assisting families in finding personalized solutions for dementia care. For more articles by Dr. Macie Smith, click here.
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