After experiencing heart troubles, a patient may be advised to undergo pacemaker implantation. But what does that entail? In this post, we will provide answers to the following questions:Why should a patient get a pacemaker?Is a pacemaker a major surgery?Is pacemaker surgery invasive?Are there pacemaker risks for the elderly?How do you go about replacing a pacemaker battery in the elderly?How do older adults recover from pacemaker surgery?Why Should One Get a Pacemaker?Doctors may recommend a temporary pacemaker to patients with a slow heartbeat after a heart attack, surgery, or overdose. This is done when the patients heartbeat is otherwise expected to recover. Afterward, a surgeon may implant a pacemaker permanently to correct a chronic irregular heartbeat or to help treat heart failure.Is Getting a Pacemaker a Major Surgery?No. Pacemaker surgery is a minor surgery that can take around 1-2 hours. Most patients go home within 24 hours after the procedure.How Invasive Is Pacemaker Surgery?The surgeon implants the pacemaker under the skin of the chest with no need for open-heart surgery. The patient will be put under local anesthesia but may receive some medications to keep them comfortable or help them fall asleep.Is There a Risk of Pacemaker Surgery in Elderly Adults?Pacemaker problems for the elderly are uncommon, but the Mayo Clinic notes that pacemaker replacement surgery risks include:Infections near the heart, where the device was implantedBlood clots near the pacemaker siteBlood in the area between the lung and chest wallBlood vessel or nerve damage near the pacemakerBruising, swelling, or bleeding at the pacemaker siteCollapsed lungShifting of the device or leads, which could rarely lead to cardiac perforationFurthermore, patients should call their doctor if they experience any of the following side effects after surgery:Abnormal heart rhythmBreathlessnessChest painDizzinessFaintingFever for longer than 2-3 daysHeart rate dropping below the pacemakers lowest settingHiccups for long periods of timeRedness, swelling, or pain at the site of the pacemakerSwollen arm on the side, where the surgery took placeWeakness for prolonged periods of timeHow Do You Go About Changing Pacemaker Battery in Elderly?A pacemaker should last 5-15 years before replacing the battery. Pacemaker battery replacement in the elderly is usually less invasive. Furthermore, pacemaker battery replacement recovery is usually less than the initial implant procedure.What Is Pacemaker Surgery Recovery in Elderly Like?Some patients recover a few days after pacemaker implantation while others take months to recover. Patients are usually advised to take 3-7 days off of work after the procedure. However, a cardiologist may recommend taking more time off if theyre concerned about the patients overall health. Patients will also need to get a checkup 4-6 weeks after the procedure to see if small adjustments need to be made. Additional checkups will also need to be completed every 3-12 months.As for lifestyle changes, patients will not be allowed to drive for at least six weeks or reach up on the side they had the procedure on for about 4-6 weeks. Additionally, cardiologists recommend avoiding sports for 4-6 weeks after pacemaker surgery. Overall though, most patients are back to resuming normal activities within four weeks.To learn more about our home care services, contact our caregiving team today online or call us at (763) 325-1950.

Florida Senior Consulting is now an in-network referral partner for major market health providers through CarePortFlorida Senior Consulting, based in Sarasota county, is proud to announce they are now an in-network service provider through CarePort.CarePort is the best practices referral network utilized by entities such as Sarasota Memorial Hospital, Lee Memorial Health System, Encompass, HCA, and Moffitt Cancer Center.CarePort is a referral service platform that guides patient decision-making during discharge and increases referrals to top-performing, high quality providers. Thousands of providers across the U.S. use CarePort to better coordinate and manage patient care.CarePort has worked with 14 million people in 2,000 hospitals across the country. They handle 41 million referrals per year.Florida Senior Consulting has the distinct designation of being the only care management and placement agency in Florida to become an in-network referral partner through CarePort.For more information, visit floridaseniorconsulting.com.

Hospital stays, planned or unplanned, are never a first choice for a vacation.  Despite our desire to be relaxing on a beach or enjoying the mountains, you or someone you love will unfortunately end up spending time in a hospital.  Once stable, hospital patients frequently say the same thing, I just want to go home. When you are in a hospital, your road home may be direct, or it may include a short detour to a short-term rehabilitation center/skilled nursing facility.  Safety and function are two key points to consider when choosing the best road home.Acute hospitals have the staff, equipment and expertise to care for unstable patients.  The need for acute hospital care ends once the patient is stable.  With advances in medicine, the amount of time needed to become stable is getting shorter and shorter.  Families are often surprised at how fast their loved one discharges from the hospital.  This is because stable patients are not always safe patients, which is a concern for both patients and families.  If a patient is stable, but not safe to go home, they will most likely need additional time at a short-term rehabilitation center/skilled nursing facility to regain their safety. Physical function is another area needing consideration when deciding if going home is the right choice.  If the patient can independently perform basic activities of daily living, they will most likely go directly home. If they need help with these activities, a quick stay at a short-term rehabilitation center/skilled nursing facility is key.  Examples of these basic activities are eating, drinking, using the restroom, transferring between positions such as, lying to sitting, sitting to standing, standing to sitting, and walking.  These basic functions can be lost during an extended hospital stay.  This is normal and easily remedied with a quick stay at a short-term rehabilitation center/skilled nursing facility. If you find yourself in a situation where your safety or function is keeping you from going home, remember that a stay at a short-term rehabilitation center/skilled nursing facility is exactly what you need.  Your hospital case manager will help you navigate your road home.  I highly recommend having someone tour at least three short-term rehabilitation centers/skilled nursing facilities on your behalf to find the one that fits your unique need. Editors Note: This article was submitted by Troy Hamler, N.H.A. Troy Hamler is the Executive Director for The Center at Northridge and may be reached at 303-280-4444.