Transitional Care in Palmer, MA, Reducing Rehospitalization Risks
One of the top reasons that transitional care in Palmer, MA is so important for our senior community is because an average 1 in 5 Medicare beneficiaries (20%) that are discharged from the hospital end up being readmitted within a month.
If your loved one is currently in the hospital or has recently been released, call Visiting Angels of Palmer at (508) 344-9916 or fill in our contact form to learn more about post-hospital care in Palmer, MA.
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How Post-Hospital Syndrome Could Affect Your Loved One
According to Harvard Health Publishing, post-hospital syndrome is defined as “a period of vulnerability lasting up to seven weeks after a patient is discharged from the hospital.” During this time, people are at an increased risk of having to be rehospitalized from conditions that are often unrelated to the reason they were hospitalized in the first place. An increased risk of death is also a possibility during this time.
While it is not possible to eliminate all of the reasons why someone might need to return to the hospital, understanding the common causes can help you plan ahead and may reduce the likelihood of complications that can occur while transitioning from the hospital and resuming a more normal routine.
Why Seniors Often End Up in the Hospital Again
Seniors who have recently been hospitalized are more vulnerable to infections, loss of muscle mass, and functional decline. They may need assistance with everything from getting dressed, preparing meals, or even feeding themselves, as well as bathing, toileting, and personal grooming. They may need help with mobility and transfers, medication reminders, and attending follow-up medical appointments. Unfortunately, without additional help during this time period, seniors may struggle to complete these and other tasks of daily living, which can result in declining health.
Some of the common causes of readmission to the hospital include:
- Medication mismanagement (missing doses, taking incorrect doses)
- Infections (UTIs, pneumonia, surgical site infections)
- Injuries from falls
- Poor wound healing
- Dehydration and malnutrition
- Unmanaged chronic conditions that require ongoing care
Fall Prevention Matters
Whether due to lingering fatigue, weakness, foggy thinking, disorientation, or medication-related side effects, the risk of falling in or around the home is also a huge concern and can result in having to make a return trip to the hospital. We recommend implementing our Safe and Steady® fall prevention program before your loved one returns home.
Managing Chronic Conditions
For seniors with existing chronic conditions, such as heart disease, diabetes, COPD and arthritis, recovery can be even more challenging and without proper support, these conditions can worsen. Visiting Angels of Palmer offers palliative care to help seniors maintain their quality of life while recovering at home.
How Ready-Set-Go Home Transitional Care Can Help Your Loved One
Visiting Angels can help your family create a transitional home care plan before your loved one is discharged from the hospital or rehab facility. Known as our “Ready, Set, Go Home” program, we will provide you with a checklist guide so that you can make sure that you have a comprehensive record of post-hospital care instructions, that you have all vital information about what assistance is needed and who is helping to coordinate that help, that you have reference information and notes from your loved ones healthcare providers, and more.
A Visiting Angels caregiver can meet your loved one before they are discharged, and, with input from you and their healthcare team, we can customize our in-home senior care services so that they will meet their specific needs at home.
Once your senior returns home, our caregivers will keep a watchful eye on them during their recovery to help identify any issues early on so they can be followed up promptly to reduce the risks of re-hospitalization or trips to the emergency room.
In addition to providing personal care for seniors, we also offer respite care to help family caregivers get the breaks they need so that they don’t burn out and end up in the hospital themselves!
Request a Free, In-Home Consultation for Post-Hospital Care Today
If your loved one is currently in the hospital or has recently been released, give us a call at (508) 344-9916 or fill in our contact form to learn more about post-hospital care in Palmer, MA. We offer a free, in-home consultation and look forward to meeting you and your loved one to discuss ways that we can help them transition back to their normal routine and remain safely at home during their recovery through our post-hospital care services.
Serving Palmer and the Surrounding Areas
Visiting Angels PALMER, MA
Maple Tree Industrial Center 21 Wilbraham St.Palmer, MA 01069
Phone: 508-344-9916