Thriving at Home Series: Part 3 – How to Prepare for a Hospital Stay

For one reason or another, most elderly Americans will eventually spend time in a hospital. For many of those seniors, preparing for a hospital stay can be an unsettling experience while worrying about issues like medical bills, making the right care decisions, and managing day-to-day household responsibilities. As an informal caregiver, here are some tips to ensure that your aging loved one’s hospital stay is as pleasant and stress-free as possible.  

Common Reasons for Hospital Stays

Each year, over 800,000 older adults in the US are hospitalized after falling. Of those, more than 300,000 are forced to stay for an extended period of time after suffering a hip fracture.

In addition to fall-related injuries, the AARP reports that these are the most common causes of hospital admissions in the elderly:

• Cardiac arrhythmias
• Congestive heart failure
• Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD)
• Coronary atherosclerosis
• Diabetes
• Infection
• Medication problems
• Pneumonia
• Stroke

Pre-Admission Tips for Older Adults

As a concerned family member or friend, here’s how to make sure that your loved one has all their bases covered before heading off to the hospital:

Designate an emergency contact

Notably, if you live in the same area, volunteer to be a point of contact in the event there’s an emergency during the hospitalization. If you don’t live close by, it may be best to designate another trusted family member or friend to serve as an emergency contact.

Get their paperwork in order

Help your loved one compile a list of medications and healthcare providers and remind them to bring along any other important documents like a power of attorney (POA), designated healthcare proxy, or healthcare directive. Don’t forget their insurance cards and any related insurance information.

Plan for leisure activities

It’s easy for a normally active senior to get bored during a hospital stay, so be sure to pack your loved one an assortment of books, magazines, crossword puzzles, photos, and more. If they like to knit or crochet, bring them plenty of yarn and knitting needles (with the hospital’s permission).

Other possible entertainment sources include a laptop computer or tablet, audiobooks, and guided meditations. If allowed, also make sure that you keep them supplied with clean, comfortable clothes and slippers.

Manage their household tasks

If they live alone, arrange for someone to take care of any pets, houseplants, the garden, and the yard. Ensure that your loved one’s bills are being paid on time and that their newspapers, mail, and packages are safe and sound. If you can’t periodically check on the property, ask one of their neighbors to assist you.

Transitioning from Hospital to Home

When it’s finally time for your loved one to come home from the hospital, here are some steps you can take to ensure a smoother transition:

• Read the discharge instructions carefully so that you fully understand activities that they can and cannot do. Help them get to any follow-up appointments and don’t hesitate to ask their doctors or nurses questions if you’re unsure.
• If your senior has been prescribed any new medications, learn what you both need to know, including dosage requirements and potential side effects.
• If they need any special medical equipment, like a wheelchair, oxygen concentrator, or nebulizer, help them make the necessary arrangements.

When going it alone, managing all these transitional care responsibilities can be overwhelming. If you need assistance, one viable option is hiring a professional in-home caregiver from a licensed home care agency.

If you’d like to learn more about how to be a more effective caregiver, read the book Thriving at Home: A Handbook for Preventing Hospital Stays by Dave Tasto. For more information about how to obtain a copy of Dave’s book visit www.thrivingathomehealth.com.

Client-Centered In-Home Transitional Care for Seniors

Caring for an aging loved one after a hospital stay can be challenging and stressful. When you need another pair of hands, contact Assisting Hands Home Care. While proudly serving seniors and families in communities Northwest of Boston, Assisting Hands provides professional in-home health services that allow our clients to remain safely and comfortably in their own homes.

From a few hours a day to around the clock, our client-centered services include transitional care, respite care, personal care, hospice care, Alzheimer’s and dementia care, Parkinson’s support, and Veteran’s support. At Assisting Hands, we deliver quality home care you can trust! To learn more now about our dependable caregivers, or to schedule a consultation for a senior in our service area, please visit us at Assisting Hands – Boston Northwest.