Senior Care News

Decrease Falls After a Hospital Stay with Transition Care

When seniors spend time in the hospital, they may be at greater risk of falling. Hospital to home transition care helps with a fall prevention plan.

When seniors are ready to come home from the hospital, they might be worried about some of the situations that could be waiting for them. One concern, preventing falls, is incredibly important for families to consider. After hospitalization, seniors are often at a much higher risk of falling because of a variety of possible causes. Hospital to home transition care is one way for seniors to have a better chance of successfully returning home safely.

Reasons Seniors Fall After Hospitalization

Hospital to Home Transition Allegheny County PA - Decrease Falls After a Hospital Stay with Transition Care
Hospital to Home Transition Allegheny County PA – Decrease Falls After a Hospital Stay with Transition Care

Seniors are especially vulnerable to falling, particularly after they spend some time in the hospital. Often they are physically weaker when they come home than they were when they went into the hospital because of reduced activity levels. They may also be on new medications or taking different dosages of old medications that cause unpredictable side effects. Other issues, like cognitive changes and not having consistent help at home, could also be part of the problem.

Home Safety Evaluations

Hospital to home transition care can help seniors and family caregivers to take a closer look at what the situation is at home. They can look at the physical issues, like whether there are safety hazards that need to be addressed, lighting that needs updating, or other issues. They can also spot problems like not having enough help in place, and recommending solutions like elder care services. Having a second set of expert eyes does a lot to ensure that seniors have the support they need.

Adding Necessary Equipment

Sometimes what seniors need is the right medical equipment. Walkers and canes, grab bars, shower chairs, and more are all a part of the different types of equipment that seniors might need to come home safely. Seniors may not need all of this equipment forever, which can be a reason for them to want to avoid it completely. Hospital to home transition care providers can help seniors understand why these tools are so necessary.

Learning More About Fall Prevention

Education is a valuable tool for helping seniors remain healthy, especially after a hospital visit. Seniors can learn about how their medication impacts their daily lives, how to properly use mobility aids, and what factors affect their fall risks. As seniors and family caregivers learn more about what they can do to prevent falls, this can pay off long after seniors have recovered from their hospital stay.

How Hospital to Home Transition Care Keeps Seniors Safe

When seniors work with hospital to home transition care providers, they can increase their confidence levels immediately. They may also reduce their risk of injuring themselves further and they can reduce their risk of going back to the hospital. A safe and supportive home environment helps seniors to recover more smoothly. Overall, family members also feel more at ease knowing that seniors have someone helping them to return home safely.

Coming home from the hospital is not always easy to do, especially when seniors are worried they might fall or experience another type of injury. Hospital to home transition care can smooth the way, ensuring that seniors are safer and more confident when they come home.

If you or an aging loved one are considering Hospital to Home Transition Care Services in Allegheny County PA please contact the caring staff at Extended Family Care Pittsburgh today. Call 412-241-7292

Extended Family Care Pittsburgh is a Trusted Home Care Agency in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania including Allegheny County, Beaver County, Butler County, Fayette County, Mercer County, Washington County, North Hills, South Hills, Fox Chapel, Monroeville, Murrysville, Oakland, Plum Boro, and Squirrel Hill.

Stephen Sternbach

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