Thanks to Nancy Healey for this informative post!
Falls, Covid, pneumonia, surgeries and strokes are just some of the reasons seniors are hospitalized every year. I had a very smooth knee replacement surgery last year with only a two-night stay in the hospital. Absolutely nothing went wrong, but my biggest wish was to hear that I was being discharged and could go home. I was very fortunate that my daughter and her family invited me to stay with them for my 2-week rehab period. They live an hour from me and near the hospital so it was easy to make return visits to the doctor and physical therapy. By the time I returned home, I could drive and manage by myself without having to hire a caregiver.
In the past couple of years, I have had several friends who had unanticipated hospital stays and even more unanticipated lengthy rehab periods afterwards. Most people I know either live alone or live only with a spouse or partner. Living with an extended circle of relatives is the most common type of household arrangement for seniors around the world, according to a recent Pew Research Study.
In the US, however, 27 percent of adults 60 and older live alone, compared with 16 percent in the 130 countries studied by Pew. Another issue in the US is that many seniors are separated geographically from their grown children.
When I was growing up, one of my grandmothers lived near my family and two of her other adult children. There was never a doubt that a family member would make sure she had a place to go and be taken care of after any medical issue or trip to the hospital. Unfortunately, this is simply not the case for older adults now, so preparation for your hospital discharge is very important.
Being discharged from the hospital does not always mean the patient is fully recovered and ready to get back to their normal life. Many seniors returning home require care and support in the form of rehabilitation services, such as physical therapy, speech therapy, occupational therapy or nursing care until they are fully recovered.
Because the day of discharge is often confusing and anxiety producing, it is important to understand in advance the discharge process and available care options for yourself or a senior in your life. Meeting with a hospital discharge planner and getting a written copy of the discharge plan will be very helpful in the days following your hospital stay. It should include where you will be going after the hospital and any special transportation you may need. Any follow-up medical care (rehab, therapy, home health visits) and treatments that are needed after discharge should be noted. You will also need a list of medications, durable medical equipment, wound care supplies and any dietary restrictions.
If you, your family member or friend is returning home, it is important to understand who will be meeting the care needs, such as scheduling follow-appointments and providing transportation to the many appointments/therapy sessions that come after a hospitalization. Sometimes it seems easy to handle any at-home care for another, but caregiver fatigue can occur quickly. Even after a minor surgery, you or a friend may need the continuing use of an ice machine, help in transferring from one location to another, help with toileting and showering and assistance with medication administration involving new prescriptions.
I was 60 when my husband returned home after a 4-1/2 month hospital stay and will never forget how terrifying it was to know I now would be responsible for him. He later confessed to me that he was equally terrified knowing that I would be taking over all the care that had been administered so professionally in the hospital. I had to return to work, so we hired a care aide from a local agency who stayed with him while I was at work and also when I needed to shop and do other errands.
There are licensed agencies that provide care staff at many different levels: physical therapists and occupational therapists who can come to the home, RN’s and LVN’s who can provide wound care and other specialized medical care and caregivers who can stay in the home on an hourly or 24-7 basis. Frequently your doctor or the discharge planner can give you the names of good licensed agencies in your area. Caring for yourself or another can be very stressful and tiring, so don’t hesitate to get professional help if needed.
It simply may not be possible for you or a loved one to return home directly after the hospital. A skilled nursing facility (SNF) is typically an option for patients recently released from a hospital following a heart attack, stroke, fall or surgery. They are sometimes referred to as rehabilitation hospitals and/or post-acute care facilities. The hospital discharge planner and your physician will generally advise the best place to meet your needs in your area. These facilities are staffed with trained medical professionals who provide 24/7 nursing, skilled medical care and specialized treatments, including intensive physical, speech and occupational therapy to their patients. The average length of stay in a skilled nursing facility is about four weeks but a patient can remain longer if their need for care and rehab continues and if their physician orders it.
It is important to learn the Medicare regulations about payment for a stay in a skilled nursing facility and the reasons you may be discharged. If you are not able to return home and live independently after discharge from the SNF, you may need to hire in-home care or to consider a brief stay in a 6-bed board and care home or assisted living, which would be paid for directly out of your pocket or through a long-term care insurance policy.
It is really enjoyable to plan for a vacation or trip to visit a friend but absolutely none of us wants to even think about, much less plan for, a hospital stay or a possible rehab period afterwards. It is certainly not necessary to draft a detailed diagram, but just becoming familiar with procedures and facilities in your area can eliminate a lot of stress and confusion and make your discharge a very happy event.
https//www.seniorspreferhomecare.com/aging-in-place-as-a-family/how-to-assist-an-elderly-parent-after-a-hospital-stay/