Many elderly adults end up in the emergency room at some point in their later years. Some will even experience issues requiring visits to at the hospital once or more a year. While these visits are often necessary, they can result in a potentially serious risk known as hospital readmission. A hospital readmission is when someone returns to the emergency room within 30 days after discharge. While this is sometimes necessary, in a large percentage of cases, particularly among elderly adults, it is not. This can put your senior at risk of experiencing of fall, contracting an illness and infection, or even developing delirium. As a family caregiver, it is important to take as many steps as possible to reduce the risk your senior will head back to the emergency room after discharge. This will protect their health and well-being, and help them to focus on recovery at home.

 

Use these tips to reduce hospital readmission after your parent is discharged from the emergency room:

  • Ask plenty of questions while your senior is still in the emergency room to make sure both of you fully understand the condition that required medical care comedy care that was given, and instructions for after discharge
  • Make sure both of you fully understand the medications your senior is prescribed so they can stay compliant with them throughout their recovery
  • Ensure your senior has access to plenty of care following their discharge to help reduce the risk of falls and other complications. This can be from you, friends and family, and professional elderly care
  • Check in with your loved one and make sure they have all the emotional support and companionship needed to help them feel understood and like they have the attention necessary to get them through this process
  • Closely monitor your senior’s condition and bring any changes to the attention of their doctor as quickly as possible so they don’t worsen

The support of an elderly care provider can be invaluable in keeping your senior at home after a visit to the hospital. Heading back to the emergency room soon after discharge if it isn’t absolutely necessary can be a negative thing for many reasons. The personalized services of an elderly home care services providercan help to address the issues that are most likely to lead your parent back to the hospital. This includes giving them mental and emotional support, offering medication reminders to keep them compliant, helping them ease into a more active life so they don’t ever do it, and more. As a family caregiver, it can also help you to feel more confident knowing your parent has a care providerwith them because you know they are in good hands, and also that their condition is being monitored so if something it changes you will know quickly and can make a decision about what to do.

If you are considering elderly care in Wallingford, PA,for your aging parent, please contact the caring staff at Franciscan Ever There Care. Call today 203-630-2881.