Home Care in Pennsylvania
A visit to the hospital is something that most elderly adults go through during their later years. For many, however, this is just the beginning and the “revolving door” routine that might come next 
can put them at extremely high risk of suffering serious consequences after their discharge. Hospital readmission is the situation when someone is discharged from the emergency room or hospital, but then returns within 30 days. This can put them at very serious risk of a variety of complications that could threaten their health, safety, and wellbeing.
Understanding the importance of avoiding hospital readmission with your aging parent is an important step in helping them to avoid serious complications and instead focus on moving forward in a way that is healthy, beneficial, and fulfilling as they age in place. This also helps to reduce the strain on the healthcare system, ensuring resources are used in the appropriate ways to keep everyone in the community healthy, protected, and in the best hands possible.
Some things that you should know about hospital readmission include:
- Nearly 25 percent of seniors who entered the hospital for heart failure returned within 30 days
- Nearly 20 percent of seniors who entered the hospital for myocardial infarction returned within 30 days
- Just over 18 percent of seniors who entered the hospital for pneumonia returned within 30 days
- The average age for seniors returning to the hospital within 30 days of discharge was approximately 80
- 61 percent of seniors who were readmitted to the hospital after heart failure returned within 15 days
- Nearly 68 percent of seniors who were readmitted to the hospital after myocardial infarctions returned with 15 days
- Nearly 63 percent of seniors who were readmitted to the hospital after pneumonia returned within 15 days
- Seniors who re-enter the hospital after discharge are more likely to contract an infection or another illness, putting them at higher risk of serious complications
- Seniors who re-enter the hospital after discharge are more likely to experience hospital delirium, a dangerous condition that impacts mental functioning and puts your parent at increased risk of mortality while in the hospital.
One of the most effective measures that you can take to help protect your aging parent from hospital readmission risk is starting home care for them. Having an in-home senior care services provider in the home with your aging loved one after they are discharged from the emergency room helps to ensure that your parent will get the personalized support, encouragement, and care that they need to manage their recovery needs and move forward in a healthier lifestyle that will protect their wellbeing into the future. This can include giving reminders so that they comply with treatments and medications, helping them to understand and follow through with dietary and lifestyle guidelines from the medical team, and giving them the companionship and emotional support that they may need to keep them on the right track and out of the emergency room.
If you are considering hiring home care in Pennsylvania, call the caring staff at Extended Family Care of PA at (888) 660-6478.
Sources:
http://www.beckershospitalreview.com/quality/20-statistics-on-hospital-readmissions.html
https://www.medicare.gov/hospitalcompare/Data/30-day-measures.html
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