Transitional Post-Hospital Care in Greenfield, WI
Comfort Keepers has caregivers dedicated to helping you provide transitional care in Greenfield, West Allis, Brookfield, Elm Grove, and surrounding cities for your elderly loved one that is all-encompassing
The day your senior loved one is released from the hospital and can come home is something to celebrate. It is also the beginning of the long road to recovery.
Bring the Whole Family Into the Picture
Providing post-hospital care for an elderly loved one can be challenging. But if you involve the whole family along with the doctor and a Comfort Keepers caregiver in your transitional elder home care plan, you might find things go a lot more smoothly and with less stress.
Before We Go Too Far You Should Know:
- The cost of readmission to the U.S. healthcare system is over $17 billion not including those coming from urgent-care facilities and emergency rooms.
- One in five seniors will be readmitted to the hospital within 30 days.
- 75% of these readmissions can be prevented.
- 25% of seniors who are discharged to nursing homes have a higher risk of readmission within 30 days.
Taking the Right Steps
When creating a post-hospital care plan for your loved one, don't forget to allow for breaks. This type of work can be physically and emotionally exhausting. Along with all the hard work, you need to spend time learning all you can about providing transitional care for your loved one. Rather than being one of the many family caregivers that become overwhelmed, contact Comfort Keepers and arrange for one of our skilled caregivers to come and give you a helping hand. Not only have they received special training covering transitional care, but they will also share their knowledge and experience with you.
Going Beyond the Norm
Our caregivers are also prepared to offer many other services, including:
- Homemaking services (decluttering, light house cleaning, laundry, dishes, meal planning & cooking, etc.)
- Companionship and emotional support throughout their recovery journey
- Continuous monitoring of health and maintaining communication between the family, doctors, rehabilitation specialists, etc.
- Transportation to appointments and taking care of numerous errands.
- Personal care services including bathing, grooming, mobility assistance, incontinence support, etc.)
What Are the Risks of Readmission?
The risk of readmission for seniors is very high during the first 180 days after returning home. While the number of readmissions has been steadily going down thanks to advances in care, the numbers are still high.
Among the more common reasons for readmission are:
- Medications – concerning the taking of new medication that causes adverse side effects and those who do not take their medication as instructed, resulting in adverse side effects.
- Limited Access to Appropriate Post Hospital Care – covering those with limited transportation to their appointments, picking up needed medications, and have the daily support they need.
- Severity and Type of Medical Condition – covering those who are in the late stages of a medical condition or suffering from a chronic condition such as heart disease or Alzheimer's.
- Lack of Education by Medical Team – covers those who did not receive the proper transition home care education by the patient's medical care team before they come home.
- Secondary Diagnoses – covering those patients who develop a medical condition or display severe symptoms not seen during their hospitalization.
Getting Started
On the day your loved one is to be discharged, ask for a copy of their medical records. They contain a wealth of important information such as treatments and medications along with post-discharge instructions needed for their post-hospital care.
Question Everyone
The best way to find out everything you need to know is to ask plenty of questions. Talk to their medical care team, their doctor, and seek out a local support group. You may also want to consult a transition care provider for more in-depth information.
Create a Set of Home Medical Records
Working with your Comfort Keepers caregiver, you need to create a "home medical record" similar to the one used by the hospital. This way you can keep detailed records of medications given, any unusual symptoms, vital signs, and more. This information may be useful if you need to contact their medical care team. Your records should include:
- A schedule that includes all family caregivers, when they will be there, and what they need to do.
- A list of appointments, what was discussed, and what, if anything was done.
- A record of all medications, when they need to be taken, and the correct dosage.
- Contact information, including caregivers and emergency contacts.
Making Your Home Healthy and Safe
The last step of your plan is to take the time out to make your home healthy and safe for your loved one to recuperate. You should:
- Be sure the house is clean and disinfected eliminating allergens and bacteria.
- Introduce your loved one to their provider before they are discharged.
- Be sure furniture is arranged to make room for any mobility equipment.
- Create a care plan schedule that lets your loved ones know who will be with them and when.
- Place items that are used daily within easy reach.
- Install any needed safety equipment.
If you would like to learn more about transitional elder home care or arrange for an experienced caregiver to help, contact Comfort Keepers in Greenfield, WI at (414) 207-6894 and let us schedule a free post-hospital care consultation with one of our knowledgeable senior advisors.
Flexible Transitioning Home Care Helps American Veteran
Mike had many strokes, heart attacks, and amputations over the course of his lifetime. He endured long stays in hospitals and nursing homes but was always grateful to get back to his own home as soon as possible.
Not only did Mike serve honorably in the Army, but he also had a career at AT&T spanning over 30 years. The last thing he wanted for his well-earned retirement was to be permanently moved to a nursing home.
Mike returned home from the hospital after a recent procedure with the help of Comfort Keepers and his positive attitude for being alive was evident. By being in the comfort of his own home, he knew “it could be worse” if he was stuck in the hospital. What a spirit of gratitude!
Mike said, “He loves Debra and Comfort Keepers’ ability to increase or lower hours according to his needs.” He can remain as independent as possible yet get the care he needs after each hospital trip.
Mike is an inspiration to Comfort Keepers as to how we should live our lives. Thanks, Mike for serving our country!
