Your elderly loved one is just about ready to be discharged from the hospital, and there is great relief and joy that she is finally well enough to leave the sterile hospital and continue her recovery at home. The key thing to consider is that she is still recovering and could benefit from hospital to home transition care.
Very few people get discharged from the hospital fully healed, especially after a major surgery, injury, or illness. Doctors understand that once a person doesn’t need 24-hour nursing care, recovering at home can be a much better environment for them, offering the comfort of home with personal care from those who love them.
But, it can also put an extra burden on caregivers who now need to make the home ready for their returning loved one and set up the resources to help them have a successful recovery.
Five Aspects of Hospital to Home Transition Care to Consider After a Hospital Stay
- Sleeping
Finding the right place for your loved one to rest as she recuperates is important. Your loved one may need a different bed than she normally uses if she is currently struggling to get in and out of bed due to her hospital stay. You might need to consider renting a hospital-style bed that can lower and raise as needed, as well as have bed rails to prevent any falls.
Where your loved one sleeps will be important as well. If her regular bedroom isn’t close to a bathroom, she may need to sleep somewhere else. If stairs are a concern, keeping your loved one on one level of a home is important. Noise levels are also important to consider if you have a noisy home or live in a noisy area.
- Eating
Eating right is important for your loved one to gain the strength she needs to get better. But this can be more easily said than done, especially if you are unable to prepare the types of foods she needs. If she is on a restricted diet, having a professional who is trained in hospital to home transition care can be a great resource. They can help with preparing healthy meals for your loved one.
- Grooming
Your loved one may need assistance with many of her grooming habits and using the bathroom after their hospital stay. If your elderly loved one is much larger than you or if you have a health condition that makes you weak, you might not be able to safely help your loved one get in and out of the tub or off the toilet. Installing secure supports like railings will help, but you also might need some physical assistance from a hospital to home transition care provider for any tasks that require physically supporting your loved one.
- Pain Management/Medication
Staying on top of your loved one’s medication schedule and any treatments they should be getting is paramount to keeping pain and discomfort at bay. Never wait until the last dosage to refill a prescription.
- Socializing
Recovery is often linked to not only physically improving, but mentally improving as well. It can be hard to manage all of the emotions that go hand-in-hand with recovery. Finding good people to socialize with and keep your loved one connected will help her recover more quickly.
With proper preparation and the assistance of a team trained in hospital to home transition care, your loved one will get the appropriate care she needs and will be feeling better in the near future.
If you or an aging loved one is considering Hospital to Home Transition Care Services in Bethlehem, PA, please contact the caring staff at Extended Family Care Allentown today. Call 610-432-6766
Extended Family Care Allentown is a Trusted Home Care Agency in Allentown, Pennsylvania, serving the surrounding areas of Bethlehem, Easton, Emmaus, Macungie, Whitehall, Schnecksville, Catasauqua, Northampton, and Nazareth.
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