Going to the hospital is a stressful time for any patient and their caregivers. Senior citizens have a tougher time adjusting to home life after hospitalization, and often need a lot more care and attention after they have been discharged.
Whether the aged patient requires round-the-clock medication or additional measures to limit exposure, caring for anyone after being hospitalized takes time and patience. If you are caring for someone at home or are expecting a loved one to come out of the hospital, then you need to know a few things.
Prepare the Home
Just as you would prepare your home to receive an infant or pet, seniors need similar care. You will need a separate room that is close to bathroom facilities, away from noise and pollution, and properly disinfected. The elderly person may have a hard time moving around as they recover from hospitalization, so walking canes or crutches must be readily available.
The biggest job is to ensure their comfort and safety by providing them with a familiar environment surrounded by their favorite items. Don’t prepare a room that is upstairs, and keep plenty of linen sets handy. During this period, they will need more sleep and rest, so be sure to give them enough space to recover but keep a close eye on their condition.
Involve Everyone
Taking care of someone who has been in the hospital or recently gotten surgery takes a lot of effort, even for younger people. Seniors need a lot of attention to get back to their normal routines, so you may need to enlist the help of family and friends. Consult with all the person’s caregivers including doctors and nurses, and create a home care plan.
From medications to sponge baths and trips to the toilet, everyone willing to help can carve out a few hours each week for these essentials. If you need extra help, speak with anagencyabout a home care plan, such as Cooperative Home Care. Keep all the elderly person’s doctors and nurses informed of their situation, and plan ongoing appointments to regularly check their condition.
Get Back to Normal
Picking up familiar daily routines can help an elderly person recover much quicker. Hospitalization can be complicated and if they have been in for a while, it will take them longer to get back to normal life. Apart from emotional stress from being in the hospital, there can be physical changes after the process.
When an elderly person is in your care post-hospitalization, you must maintain their nutrition with a healthy diet and reduce stress or anxiety of any kind. As soon as they are more mobile, you need to introduce some light exercise and encourage them to perform the same daily activities they used to.
Seniors account for more than one-third of all hospitalizations in America each year. Whether they receive surgery, emergency care, or assistance to manage a condition, seniors need extra help when they leave any hospital facility. For caregivers, this time is the most important to help the elderly person get back to their lives and they will rely on you for the majority of their daily needs.
