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It’s essential that seniors and their caregivers take steps to reduce the risk of hospital readmissions. Readmissions can cause financial hardships and scheduling conflicts for caregivers and additional medical, psychological, and financial problems for seniors. Here are some reasons aging adults are readmitted to the hospital within 30 days and how to prevent them.
Noncompliance with Treatment Plans
Seniors who are noncompliant with their new medications, therapeutic diets, or wound treatments are at risk for hospital readmission within 30 days. If your senior loved one isn’t complying with his or her treatment plan, encourage him or her to do so.
There may be a reason for the noncompliance. For instance, your loved one may be unable to tolerate the side effects of new medications or dislike the new dietary restrictions. Call a physician, who can recommend an alternative treatment plan your loved one may be more likely to comply with.
A professional caregiver can be a wonderful source of support for a senior who’s recovering after being hospitalized. Senior 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.
Pneumonia
Your loved one may have acquired pneumonia during the initial hospital stay, but the symptoms may not have appeared until after your loved one was discharged. This respiratory infection can be life-threatening and may cause a high fever, shaking chills, coughing, lethargy, shortness of breath, and dehydration. If your loved one exhibits any of these symptoms, call a physician.
If caught early enough, pneumonia can be effectively treated with either antibiotics or antiviral treatments. If your loved one doesn’t get treatment, or if treatment with antibiotics or antivirals isn’t successful, he or she may end up back in the hospital for intravenous therapy, nebulizer treatments, and oxygen administration.
A professional caregiver can closely monitor your loved one for post-hospitalization complications. When searching for reliable Cincinnati senior home care agencies, families want to know their senior loved ones will be well taken care of. At Assisting Hands Home Care Cincinnati, 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.
Heart Attacks
If your loved one had a heart attack a month or so ago, he or she may be at risk for a second heart attack within 30 days, especially if your parent is still medically unstable or doesn’t comply with the post-myocardial infarction treatment plan implemented by the cardiologist.
If your loved one experiences chest pain, shortness of breath, pain radiating down the left arm, dizziness, or jaw pain, seek emergency medical treatment at once. When emergency heart attack interventions are quickly implemented, seniors are less likely to sustain major heart muscle damage.
Complications from Implants
Prosthetic implant rejection and wound infections can lead to hospital readmissions within 30 days. If your loved one is readmitted to the hospital as a result of implant complications, he or she may need intravenous antibiotic therapy and wound care. If the infection is resistant to treatment or very severe, the implant may need to be removed.
Many aging adults need assistance when they return home after being hospitalized. 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 Cincinnati, OH, 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. For compassionate, reliable in-home care, trust the experienced professionals from Assisting Hands Home Care. Reach out to one of our dedicated Care Specialists today to learn about the high quality of our in-home care services.
