Healing Better at Home: Planning for Care After Hospital Discharge
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Its a startling fact: Twenty percent of the more than two million Medicare recipients who are sent home from the hospital, are readmitted within a month often with more severe health complications, according to data published in the New England Journal of Medicine. Ive seen many families go through this. While its not uncommon for older adults to continue to their healing in a rehabilitation facility for a time after a hospital stay, they often return home before they are fully recovered. They arent quite ready or strong enough to manage the range of complicated care needs they have during recovery. This leaves families scrambling trying to manage multiple medications, wound care, mobility issues, and household chores, while their loved ones recover. During this time, between hospital discharge and full recovery, older adults are more vulnerable and at higher risk for falls, medication mix-ups, infections, and other complications that can lead to rehospitalization and even death. But with some solid planning and the support of a coordinated care team including professional caregivers, family caregivers, discharge planners, and home health nurses and other care specialists, you can minimize the dangers for your loved one and make an easier transition home, says Sara Russell, RN, a senior care specialist and a caregiver trainer and educator.
A smooth transition from hospital to home is essential, particularly for older adults with chronic conditions and complex care needs, according to a review in the American Journal of Nursing. It can ease stress, support healing, and recovery, and make everyone more comfortable. Thats a big reason many families choose to work with our qualified caregivers as they move their loved one home from the hospital. Our caregivers are trained through the Home Care 100 Advanced Caregiver Training Program in safe transfers, medication reminders, meal preparation, and other specific and complex care needs often required by patients after a hospital or rehab stay. We regularly drive and accompany our clients to medical appointments and can take detailed notes of the meeting for family members who cannot attend. This ensures that your loved makes their follow up visits which are key to recovery. Could a professional caregiver be helpful to your loved ones recovery? Its something worth considering as part of the discharge planning process.
How to Plan for Hospital Discharge
Discharge planning might begin soon after your loved one is admitted to the hospital. Hospital planners will sit down with you, your loved one, and other family members to begin talking about the kind of care that youll need to provide at home as your family member continues to heal. Theyll discuss things like follow-up care, home health care, which includes visits from a registered nurse or physical therapist to check on the patient, pain and wound care management strategies, and any home modifications that will be needed such as bringing a hospital bed, installing grab bars, picking up area rugs to support the senior. At this point, many families decide to hire a professional caregiver to help them manage the long-list of complicated care requirements older adults often have when they first arrive home from the hospital or rehab facility. Our caregivers can provide short-term support while your family member recovers. Then, as he becomes stronger and more independent, we can reduce or eliminate those care hours altogether to accommodate his changing needs. What else should you talk with discharge planners about? Ask about mobility support, so you know how to help your loved one transfer from bed to bathroom or chairs without risking injury to the both of you. And, medications, prescription schedules, potential side effects, follow-up appointments, and anything else that will influence your loved ones recovery and health. The answers to these and other questions will help you put things in place ahead of time to make the transition home less stressful for everyone.
Questions to Ask Discharge Planners of Hospital Social Workers:
When will my loved one be discharged home?
How will he be transported there?
Will he be able to get and out of the car on his own?
What problems should I expect?
Who do I call during the day and after hours if problems or concerns arise?
How will care and treatment continue after discharge?
Will home health providers nurses, therapists, etc. be coming to the house to provide care?
What medications will he be on and what are some side effects can we expect from the medication?
Will we need any medical equipment at home such as a walker, hospital bed, commode, oxygen tank?
How will I get that equipment and who will install it in the home?
Will my loved one need help bathing, dressing, eating, drinking, showering, toileting or with any other tasks of daily living?
Is there any special care or treatment I need to learn how to deliver such as providing wound care, insulin shots, or other care?
These are key questions I suggest families ask when meeting with doctors and hospital discharge planners. Feel free to print out our handy checklist of these and other questions to ask your discharge planner.
Transitioning Home:
In most cases, some modifications of the home should be completed even before your loved one is released. And this is another way a professional caregiver can help. We work with families to help prepare the home for easy access and will set up the patients room to fit their preferences and abilities. Well make sure the things he most needs and enjoys eyeglasses, hearing aids, phones, newspapers, television remotes are in close proximity. Moving key objects closer is another risk reduction strategy used to prevent seniors from reaching and potentially falling out of the bed or chair. Think of us as your safety net here to help your loved one avoid hospital readmission by making the transition home easier, safer, and a whole lot less stressful for you and your family. When you do arrive home, youre loved one will probably begin working with home health providers like nurses, therapists, and dieticians. Those visits will begin almost right away. You can also expect to have a number of follow up appointments at therapy and medical offices. You and your loved one will need to decide how he will get there and what kind of help youll need to move safely in and out of the car.
Our caregivers often transport clients to medical appointments and regularly work in collaboration with home health providers. A professional caregiver can serve as a bridge between family members, medical providers, therapists, and pharmacists, Russell says. And, also help you establish a supportive daily routine that aids recovery and eases stress and helps your loved one avoid complications.
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Give the Gift of a Clutter-Free Home
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Sooo many giftsHow did we get here?First of all, I want to say that this post isnt about being a Grinch or not giving gifts. I love giving gifts and a world without gifts would be a sad one.At the same time, we live in a culture where there is an incredible pressure to buy lots of gifts, particularly around Christmas. So much so that 47% of Americans surveyed expect to go into debt for holiday gift-giving, travel, or both, this year. And so many people are already overwhelmed with belongings. Eleven percent of Americans rent storage units to store extra stuff. Now that I see much stress gifts create for both givers and receivers, I think its time for a different approach to gifts. Realize the change starts with youBefore we get into strategies, its important to acknowledge that you only have control over your own gift giving behavior. Yup, thats right. 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How Ive changed my approach to giftingBefore I became an organizer, I felt obligated to buy holiday gifts for every party and event I went to. At times, I fell into the trap of buying things I liked or that seemed really nice to me (like an expensive pair of earrings or bottle of wine) but the recipient didnt actually care about. Other times, I found gifts that I knew were lame, but I bought them anyway because I didnt want to show up empty-handed, or I couldnt afford what the person really wanted. I dont do those things anymore. Ive tried to be a more mindful gift-giver by: Opting out of gift exchanges that are less meaningful to me, or where I cant gift a specific recipient, like office Secret Santas or Yankee Swaps. Pausing and asking Am I picking this item to impress the recipient, or because they will really love it? If Im picking something to show off my own taste, I rein myself in. 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When Organizing Tips and Tricks Arent Enough
Have you ever clicked on an article or bought a book hoping to find that little nugget that will help you finally get organized? When I started on my own personal organizing journey in 2015, I bought every organizing magazine and book I could find. While I learned some helpful things, nothing I read was a real game-changer for me. Sometimes the organizing advice even felt overly simple and frustrating. If youve ever felt frustrated or underwhelmed with the organizing tips and tricks youve found, youre not alone. As a professional organizer, I frequently see this happening with my clients.After working with 100+ clients, I now understand why organizing tips and tricks fall short for so many people. For most people, its one (or more) of the 5 common reasons Ill discuss below. The good news is that once you understand why the standard advice isnt working for you, you can start to find the right support to help you finally get organized. Reason 1: You have more complex organizing challenges. Since becoming a professional organizer, Ive learned that some people experience significant, ongoing challenges with organization we call this chronic disorganization. This is common among people with ADHD, people with hoarding disorders, and senior citizens. If you have experienced a long-term struggle with organization, basic organizing tips arent going to address the complexity of your situation. You may need to address physical and mental health issues, relationships, and other challenges alongside your home environment. Working with a therapist or mental health professional, a professional organizer experienced in chronic disorganization, and establishing a strong personal support system can make a difference.Reason 2: You need structure and accountability, not just information. Many of my clients know what they need to do to get organized, but they struggle to carve out the time and complete to the sometimes-tedious tasks that organization requires. This is why in-person support is key. So many of my clients tell me I just get so much more done when youre here. I think of it like working out with a personal trainer. Sure, I could go to the gym and work out by myself, but if Ive booked a session with a personal trainer, Im much less likely to skip my session or give it a half-hearted effort.Having an accountability buddy or trusted professional working alongside you can help you keep going, even when youd rather plop on the couch and binge Netflix than organize your pantry. Reason 3: You just dont have time. Even the best organizing systems require regular maintenance. If you are in a busy season of life, you may be struggling to find time to keep your home in order. I always encourage my clients to look at the whole picture: What are your work responsibilities? What are your care-giving responsibilities? What routine chores are you responsible for (laundry, dishes, cleaning, meal prep, shopping)? Are you managing scheduling, planning, and logistics for your household? Are you responsible for other types of home maintenance (lawn care, renovations, repairs)? What activities/organizations are you active in outside of work? Do you have enough downtime and time with your family? Often, people dont have as much time to dedicate to home organizing as they would like. If this is the case for you, simplifying, delegating tasks, and bringing in outside support can help you stay organized if youre time-pressed. Reason 4: You have a physical or health challenge. Home organizing is often physical it can involve a lot of lifting, reaching, climbing, and standing. If you have a physical challenge like an injury, a health condition that limits your energy or mobility, or a physical disability it may be difficult to stay organized. Finding a trusted, non-judgmental partner who can assist with physical tasks while you make decisions is your key to staying organized. Reason 5: You need a bigger lifestyle change. While working together, sometimes my clients realize there is something bigger beneath disorganization. Maybe their family is over-scheduled, and they decide to cut back on some obligations. Or they acknowledge they have a shopping addiction and consider talking to a therapist. Or they reconsider their priorities and choose to simplify so they have more time for travel and hobbies. All these realizations go beyond organization they require a lifestyle change that organizing can support, but on its own wont completely address. If youve tried the standard organizing tips and tricks youve read, and they just dont seem to be helping, consider if something else in your lifestyle needs to change before you can get organized. What does this mean for you? Getting organized can be complex and challenging, and if you havent cracked it yet, dont be hard on yourself. If any of this resonated with you, my top recommendations are: Take the organizing tips you hear with a grain of salt. They may work for some, but they wont work for everyone (and thats ok!) Consider how you can add caring, non-judgmental support to reach your goals. That could be a therapist, coach, trusted friend/family member, body double, or professional organizer. If you have ADHD or another complex organizing challenge, look for an organizer with experience working with chronic disorganization. I have my Level I certificates of study in chronic disorganization and ADHD from the Institute for Challenging Disorganization (ICD), and you can search their website for professionals in your area. If youd like to talk in more detail about your organizing challenges, Im here for you. Sign up for a free consultation or contact me at 412-503-7604. Id love to help you get moving in the right direction!