Top Benefits of Using a Home Care Provider

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7 Senior Care Tips for After a Hospital Discharge
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Introduction

• Nothing is more worrisome than having an elderly
  parent or loved one in the hospital. Its a very
  stressful situation for everyone.
• You know they are getting the best care and have
  constant monitoring. Which is what they need when
  first admitted. Everyone looks forward to the day
  of discharge because theres no place like home.
• Once discharged though, will recovery at home be
  safe and possible for your senior loved one? Will
  they need to have assistance?
• You want them to be able to heal at home and not
  have any setbacks. Dont let the recovery be as
  worrisome as the hospital stay.
• Make sure they are able to recover in a safe
  environment with these senior care tips.

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Senior Care Tips

• After a hospital discharge, you want the best
  chance of recovery for your senior loved one. The
  first 30 days at home are crucial. About 20 of
  elderly patients get readmitted within 30 days of
  discharge. Here are some tips to keep your loved
  one safe and at home.

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Discharge Instructions

• Make sure you have clear discharge instructions.
  Have the discharge planner or nurse sit and go
  over all the expectations and limitations.
• Review all medications with them. Especially if
  they are new ones or if there are changes in
  dosage.
• Ask questions if something is not clear or
  understood. As a caregiver, ask whatever you
  need. Make sure the home care plan they want you
  to follow is clear. Also, make sure your loved
  one also understands the instructions.

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Home Safety

• Is the home safe?
• With or without, stairs may be a problem. Try
  having them sleep on the first floor if possible.
  If not possible they may need a caregiver to
  assist them on the stairs.
• Make sure the floors are clear. Simple things
  like throw rugs can be a falling hazard. Push in
  chairs and make room if they have to use a walker
  to get around.
• If the home has slippery floors make sure they
  wear something with treads on their feet. The
  socks from the hospital are a great example. You
  want to prevent a fall that could land them back
  in the hospital.
• Do they need any special equipment? If they need
  a cane, walker, booster for the toilet, or shower
  seat make sure to have that in the house and
  ready for them. This will help aid in safety and
  limit fall risk.

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Activities of Daily Living

• Are they able to do the activities needed for
  their day-to-day, such as bathing, dressing, and
  getting food? It may be a good idea to have a
  caregiver come in and help with these if they are
  not able to do them.

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Nutrition

• Nutrition during recovery is very important.
  Ready-to-go meals are a great idea. If there is
  no one able to cook for them then these meals
  would be helpful.
• Aim for having enough for at least a week, maybe
  two. Fresh fruits and vegetables can make easy
  and nutritious meals. Make sure they have easy
  access to things they will need in the kitchen.
• You dont want them bending or reaching if they
  are recovering from surgery.

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Medication

• Make sure they are clear on their medications.
  The times and the dosages. It can get confusing
  especially if there is a change in medication.
• Medication errors can occur with seniors after a
  hospital discharge. You want to make sure theyre
  following the healthcare providers instructions.
• Making a calendar noting dosage, medication, and
  timetables can be helpful. Not just for loved
  ones but also for the caregiver. You can mark off
  each time they take a med.

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Infection
Watch for signs of infection. This is something
you want to catch as soon as possible. Signs like
fever, sweating, chills, digestive upset are
symptoms to look out for. If they have a wound
look for redness and oozing, notify your
healthcare provider right away.
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Follow up Appointments
Make sure they follow up with their healthcare
provider. This is very important. The provider
will review medications and can determine how the
recovery is going. He can address any issues,
physical and mental, that have come about during
recovery. If physical therapy is part of
discharge instructions make sure they keep those
appointments. Physical therapy can aid in
recovery. Especially if they have been immobile
for a long period.
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Is More Assistance Needed?
Your loved one may need either full-time or
part-time help. They may not feel comfortable
with a stranger taking care of them. No one knows
their loved one better than you. A friend or
family member could assist the loved one and get
paid for their time. It would allow some peace of
mind to have someone you know and trust. Your
loved one will feel secure in having someone they
know there also. There is a way with CDPAP. CDPAP
stands for Consumer Directed Personal Assistance.
CDPAP is through NYS Medicare and it allows you
to choose and hire your own personal caregivers.
That includes friends and family but excludes the
patients spouse. Caregivers do not need a
special skill or licensing. The discharge planner
will give you instructions on all the duties you
will carry out. Remember to ask questions. To
qualify for CDPAP, the loved one must need help
with their activities of daily living. The
medical condition also needs to be stable. The
patient needs to be able to direct or have the
representative direct the care as the program
requires.
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A Caregiver You Trust

• Its hard having your loved one go through
  recovery and can be stressful to bring in someone
  you and they dont know.
• Have a caregiver they know and trust. Follow all
  the healthcare providers instructions and use
  the senior care tips. You will be able to aid
  your loved ones as they recover in the comfort of
  their own home.
• Contact and become a caregiver today. Get paid
  and help your loved one heal and recover.

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a Hospital Discharge visit our family always
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