How To Know If Your Loved One Needs Post-Hospital Care

A woman walking with a walker while still in the hospital awaiting post-hospital care.

There are many reasons seniors may need to go to the hospital. Falls send three million elderly adults to emergency rooms each year, with one third of those individuals requiring hospitalization. Other common reasons older adults require hospitalization include:

Heart disease
Hip injuries
Respiratory infections

Determining your loved one’s needs after they’re released from the hospital can be frightening and stressful. Effective post-hospital care for seniors ensures your loved one gets the post-acute care they need. Arranging expert transitional care will support their recovery and give you peace of mind when your loved one leaves the hospital.

Learn how our skilled nursing facility in Salt Lake City can help with post-hospital senior care.

Signs Your Loved One Needs Post-Hospital Care

Your loved one may need post-hospital care if they have or experience:

Amnesia
Bruises
Confusion
Decreased mobility
Falls
Inability to perform routine tasks, such as driving or house cleaning
Injuries
Mood swings
Poor hygiene
Sleep pattern changes
Weight loss

Medication errors are another reason for post-hospitalization care. Taking the wrong medications or the wrong amount of medication can compromise your loved one’s health. Caregiver burnout may also be a sign they need additional care.

Types Of Post-Hospital Care Options Available

Post-hospitalization care options include:

Elderly care facility: Assisted living facilities are long-term options for those requiring routine assistance. Elderly care facilities provide house cleaning, personal care assistance, meals, and other daily essentials. These facilities may be an option for those with minimal medical needs.
In-home care: Home health aides visit your loved one in their home or yours, assess their health, and provide primary care.
Skilled nursing facility: Skilled nursing homes provide essential medical services, including infectious disease care, wound care, medication assistance, and tube feeding. When your loved one goes to the best skilled nursing facility in the area, they have direct access to doctors, registered nurses, and licensed therapists.

How To Choose The Right Post-Hospital Care Facility

Choosing the right post-hospital care option involves:

Identifying your loved one’s short-term needs: If your loved one needs extensive speech, occupational, and physical therapy, choosing a skilled nursing facility near you ensures they receive those services in-house.
Identifying your loved one’s long-term needs: If your loved one needs permanent assistance, you may opt for a skilled nursing facility where they’ll receive ongoing care, so they don’t have to move to a different facility as they progress.
Considering your budget: Finances may determine which post-hospitalization care is an option.
Visiting the facilities: Visit the facilities you’re considering. Are they clean and welcoming? Are the staff friendly, or do they seem overworked? Are there activities your loved one would enjoy? Take your time visiting to find a place where your loved one feels at home.

The Role Of Caregivers In Post-Hospital Recovery

Caregivers perform routine tasks, such as cleaning, shopping, and driving clients to appointments. Caregivers may also assist with bathing, brushing teeth, dressing, and moving from place to place.

Some caregivers provide basic health care. Those qualified may take your loved one’s temperature, check their blood pressure, give them medications, and provide wound care. When you choose a skilled nursing facility, the facility administrators ensure your loved one has qualified caregivers providing the assistance they need.

Differences Between Home Health Care And Rehabilitation Centers

Many older people prefer being in a familiar environment. However, staying at home can lead to isolation and loneliness and make it harder for your loved one to access essential services.

Rehabilitation centers have therapists and medical experts, so your loved one can receive expert care without traveling to appointments. These facilities also provide activities and social opportunities. Our skilled nursing center in Salt Lake City has on-site beauticians, so your loved one can get their hair done. They can also enjoy social opportunities with other residents.

Benefits Of Professional Post-Hospital Care

Professional post-hospital care helps prevent complications. It gives your loved one the best chance of recovery and relieves strain on family members who may not have the skills to deliver the care their loved one needs.

Creating A Post-Hospital Care Plan With Your Loved One

Talk to your loved one’s doctor about their needs and identify the best way to meet them. Explain the options to your loved one. They may benefit from discussing this transition with a counselor and visiting facilities, so they understand their options and the level of care they’ll receive.

If your loved one is reluctant to go to a skilled nursing facility, set a deadline for assessing their progress. Talk to their medical team about whether they can return home or whether more skilled nursing care is required.

How To Monitor Your Loved One’s Progress In Post-Hospital Care

Visit and observe your loved one to assess their progress. Review the signs your loved one needs post-hospitalization care to determine if they can care for themselves or still need additional care.

Talk to your loved one’s medical team to verify their condition and medical needs and determine if they need more or different post-hospitalization care.

Tips For Providing Emotional Support To Your Loved One

Use active listening to provide emotional support. Show your loved one you hear and understand their concerns and wishes. Suppose your loved one is reluctant to move to a skilled nursing facility but requires extensive care. In that case, move beyond their surface concerns, such as remaining in their home, to address deeper fears, like losing control of their environment or moving away from friends. Find solutions to those fears to alleviate their anxiety about a potential move.

You can also provide emotional support by helping your loved one visit friends and family, so they don’t feel isolated.

Addressing Common Challenges In Post-Hospital Care

Post-hospital care challenges vary. A person with amnesia or confusion may not understand why they need medical assistance. You may explain their health condition and needs and reassure your loved one that their medical team will help them.

Those moving from home may struggle with a new environment. You may need to visit more often to help with their transition. You may also need to bring familiar items from home to increase their comfort level.

Communicating with caregivers and medical professionals ensures you’re aware of concerns. Collaborating with these professionals can help your loved one embrace the care they need and help you find ways to resolve concerns.

Post-Hospital Care At Monument Health Group

Whether you’re looking for post-hospital care in Salt Lake City or a skilled nursing facility in Bountiful, Monument Health Group has exceptional facilities that provide expert post-hospital care. Visit our rehabilitation centers in Bountiful and Salt Lake City to learn how we can support your loved one and provide their post-hospital care needs.

Call Monument Health Group to discuss your loved one’s needs today.