In our days, after hospital care for the elderly is of great importance, as advancements in medicine lead patients to spend less time in hospital due to economic reasons. However, swift turnover of hospital beds has become feasible due to the development of rehabilitative medicine and post-hospital care for patients.
Additionally, reducing the number of days spent in the hospital decreases the risk of hospital-acquired infections among the elderly, which significantly improves their well-being and health condition.
Care for the elderly after leaving the hospital ensures a quick return to normal life, better adaptation to changes after treatment, and a stable emotional state.
Post-Hospital Care for the Elderly: Start with Planning
In post-hospital care for the elderly, the first thing to do is to plan it before discharge from the hospital. This will allow for the proper preparation of the home to receive the individual.
Documentation Management
Always complete medical documents to record data related to caring for the elderly after discharge from the hospital in order to track improvements or deterioration in the dynamics of rehabilitation. Create several separate documents to carefully fill them out each day:
- Schedule of physiotherapy procedures;
- List of prescribed medications and schedule of their administration;
- Entries of objective well-being, symptoms, and vital signs.
Also, during the planning of post-hospital care for the elderly, it is necessary to write down the schedule for when the individual will be in contact with doctors, medical personnel, or other necessary specialists (occupational therapists, masseurs, speech therapists if necessary). Post-hospital care should provide timely monitoring and assessment of the elderly person’s condition to prevent complications or to respond promptly to emergencies.
Identify the Type of Support
Evaluate the mobility of the elderly person, whether they are able to climb stairs, move independently, or require walkers or a wheelchair. Perhaps it’s worth considering moving the bedroom to the first floor of the house if it was previously on higher floors. Medical staff will best assist you in assessing the condition of the elderly person, informing about the patient’s urgent condition, prognosis, and necessary equipment after discharge.
Identify the type of support needed for the elderly person:
- Medical supervision and continuation of treatment at home;
- Assistance with personal hygiene;
- Meal preparation;
- Assistance with mobility;
- Assistance with household chores.
Elderly Care After Hospital Discharge: Which Department’s Discharge?
Principles of elderly care after hospital discharge may vary depending on the department in which the individual was treated. This is important because the condition of individuals after surgery or therapeutic treatment may differ.
Postoperative Care
Care for the elderly after leaving the surgical department includes rehabilitation measures such as patient mobilization, massage to improve blood circulation, or regular changes in body position in bed to prevent bedsores in individuals who are bedridden. It is also necessary to consider changing dressings on postoperative wounds, monitoring drainage tubes, and more. Additionally, elderly individuals may require pain syndrome control using analgesics and a special notification system for their intake.
Medical Department
Very often, elderly individuals after discharge from the medical department require continued treatment at home, which includes timely administration of medications, monitoring of vital functions requiring special equipment.
Care for the Elderly After Injury
If an elderly person was in the trauma department after an injury or fall, the main focus of post-hospital care is to ensure physical rehabilitation. To do this, it is necessary to determine whether the elderly person needs to be transported to specialized rehabilitation centers within a week or whether doctors and rehabilitation specialists will come home. Here we return to mandatory scheduling and preparation of the necessary equipment.
Palliative Care
Sometimes elderly people are discharged from palliative care units home at terminal stages of illness. The main task in such cases is to provide peace of mind to individuals, proper daily hygiene, pressure sore prevention, monitoring of nutrition, which may be complicated due to the individual’s physical condition, and more.
Care for the Elderly After Leaving Hospital: Key Needs in the Post-Hospital Period
Care for the elderly after leaving the hospital requires attention to changes in the person’s daily life compared to how it was before hospitalization.
If an elderly person becomes less mobile or slower in their movements after returning home, it is necessary to adapt their living space accordingly. Unfortunately, when a person begins to lose mobility even for a short period, it can be frustrating and saddening for them. Be sure to talk to the elderly person about this, reassure them, and support their efforts in following prescribed home care or rehabilitation measures.
It should also be noted that elderly returning home after hospitalization may require assistance with hygiene maintenance. This includes nail, dental, hair care, and overall body washing. They may feel embarrassed about needing assistance with genital hygiene and experience concerns about their privacy being compromised. Always treat elderly with respect during these moments and use a towel to cover parts of the body not involved in the washing process. Find the right words to support an elderly person who may feel embarrassed.
It is also necessary to gradually return to the daily routine the person was accustomed to in normal life, as disruptions to habits and routines are particularly keenly felt in old age. It can be very helpful for the person to meet with friends and repeat their favorite rituals. Try to adapt these rituals to the new conditions and, if possible, plan post-hospital care for the elderly as closely as possible to their usual daily routine.
It would be great if you could encourage the elderly person during the post-hospital period to attend general recreational events, picnics, or book clubs, provided their physical condition allows it. This will help prevent feelings of isolation and support social skills.
Post-Hospital Care for the Elderly: Recovery Specifics
Post-hospital care for the elderly differs from caring for younger people in that they recover more slowly, have chronic illnesses, and limited mobility. Exercise patience and attention to detail when caring for the elderly after they return home from the hospital.
Elderly people may experience more emotional stress, anxiety, and depression after hospitalization due to loss of independence, fear of recurring illness, or uncertainty about the future. Be sure to talk to these individuals about their new condition, listen to them, and try to alleviate their concerns. Close relatives or psychologists are best suited to handle this task.
It is important to help the elderly person understand that some changes in their body or daily life may be temporary or permanent. In any case, do not leave the elderly person alone with their fears and concerns if you want to ensure good care in the post-hospital period.
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