If your senior loved one has had a recent hospital stay, you’ve probably had healthcare professionals recommend ways to lower his or her risk of readmission. Why is it so detrimental for a senior to have to go back into the hospital? Here are five major reasons hospital readmissions are bad for seniors.
1. Adds Stress during Recovery Time
Any hospital stay is concerning for seniors and their loved ones, so lowering the frequency of hospitalizations can be helpful for everyone’s peace of mind. No matter the reason for a hospital stay, your loved one will most likely feel stressed and concerned, and a readmission will only exacerbate that anxiety. His or her friends and family members are also likely to have a lot of emotional strain as a result of a readmission.
2. Signifies Signs of Improper Healing
If your loved one ends up being readmitted due to complications from the initial hospital stay, you need to be concerned. A hospital readmission frequently means a senior isn’t healing properly. For example, your loved one might have to go back into the hospital if a lung infection cannot clear up on its own or a blood clotting disorder results in a recurrent stroke.
A professional caregiver can be a wonderful source of support for a senior who’s recovering after being hospitalized. Senior home care experts are available to provide high-quality care to seniors on an as-needed basis. From assistance with mobility and exercise to providing transportation to the doctor’s office and social events, there are a variety of ways professional caregivers can help your aging loved one continue to live independently.
3. Costs More Money
Having to worry about medical bills is an unfortunate reality for many families, even if their aging loved ones have some form of medical assistance. On average, a hospital readmission doubles the cost of medical bills. In cases where a simple hospital procedure results in dangerous complications, medical bills can soar even higher, adding a whole new source of stress during an already difficult time.
4. Increases the Risk for Further Infections
Hospitals do their best to maintain a safe environment, but just being in a hospital can be risky. Hospitals can be sources of all sorts of dangerous infections, such as staph and MRSA. Of course, the dangers of trying to recover from a serious illness independently are worse than the chances of catching a hospital-acquired infection, but it’s much better if your loved one can stay healthy and avoid going into the hospital altogether.
A professional caregiver can monitor your loved one for post-hospitalization complications, including infections. When searching for reliable Waterloo at-home care agencies, families want to know their senior loved ones will be well taken care of. At Home Care Assistance, our expertly trained caregivers are available around the clock to assist with tasks around the house, provide transportation to medical appointments and social events, and much more.
5. Indicates Proper Care Isn’t Being Provided
One of the most common causes of hospital readmissions is not having a dedicated caregiver or healthcare support person present while recovering at home. Being readmitted to a hospital is often a sign the home situation is less than ideal. It can mean your loved one needs more attention from a caregiver or signal he or she isn’t capable of following the doctor’s instructions.
Some seniors only require help with a few daily tasks so they can maintain their independence. However, those living with serious illnesses may need more extensive assistance. Luckily, there is professional live-in care Waterloo, ON, seniors can rely on. Home can be a safer and more comfortable place for your loved one to live with the help of an expertly trained and dedicated live-in caregiver. If you need professional home care for your loved one, reach out to Home Care Assistance today at (519) 954-2111.