How To Know If Your Loved One Needs Post-Traumatic Injury Care

A physical therapist doing post-traumatic injury care on her patient.

Aging leads to physiological changes affecting every part of the human body, from your cells to your motor skills. These changes may reduce or alter how your organs function and your ability to move.

Due to physiological changes from aging, older adults have a higher risk of health issues. For those 65 and older, falls claim more lives than any other cause of death. People in this age group may also suffer accidental injuries from other types of accidents, such as motor vehicle accidents.

Once a senior loved one suffers a traumatic injury, you’ll have to make decisions about post-traumatic injury care. You may wonder if a skilled nursing facility near you can deliver the care your loved one needs or if you must find post-traumatic care near your location. Wherever you are located, it helps to understand what assisted living facilities in Salt Lake City, post-traumatic care programs in Bountiful, and skilled nursing facilities in Utah have to offer. Familiarizing yourself with the distinctions between post-traumatic care programs and skilled nursing facilities can confirm if your loved one needs post-traumatic care and which program is best for them.

Learn more about medical and personal care services for older adults

What Are The Signs That My Loved One Needs Post-Traumatic Injury Care?

Several symptoms can indicate your loved one needs post-traumatic injury care, including the following:

Amnesia
Bruising
Disorientation
Mental health concerns, such as agitation, mood swings, and depression
Pain
Reduced mobility, balance issues, and falls
Swelling
Weight loss

Your loved one may benefit from assistance in an elderly care facility or skilled nursing home if they cannot manage their medications, bathe independently, and perform routine tasks.

External indications your loved one may need post-traumatic injury care include the following:

Caregiver burnout
Lack of housecleaning
Social isolation

How Can I Tell If My Loved One’s Injury Is Severe Enough For Specialized Care?

Not all bruises justify specialized care. Familiarizing yourself with potential indications that your loved one needs post-hospital care is crucial; however, you must also consider the symptoms’ cause, severity, and frequency. An older loved one with frequent, severe injuries may need specialized care. Discussing their symptoms with their physician can confirm whether they need post-traumatic injury care.

How Soon After An Injury Should Post-Traumatic Care Begin?

Individuals needing post-traumatic care in Salt Lake City should receive this care as soon as possible. Ideally, they’ll begin care right after they suffer the injury.

What Types Of Care Are Available For Post-Traumatic Injuries?

Older individuals needing care after a traumatic injury could benefit from any of the following:

Assisted living care
Post-hospital care
Post-traumatic injury care
Short-term rehabilitation program
Skilled nursing facility care

While short-term rehabilitation programs can provide therapy through inpatient and outpatient programs, post-traumatic injury care provides inpatient care. Medical staff monitor patients around the clock, and experts provide assistance with personal care tasks, such as bathing and dressing, as well as treatments, such as physical therapy. Post-traumatic care programs combine the services delivered by assisted living, skilled nursing, and rehabilitation programs and customize care plans that address the patient’s needs while they recover.

Can Post-Traumatic Injury Care Help With Long-Term Recovery?

Individuals benefit from post-traumatic injury care in multiple ways.

Emotional Recovery

Your loved one may struggle with fear and worry about their ability to manage after an injury. Depending on the source of their injury, they may be afraid to return to the place where they were injured or attempt the same activity again. They may also struggle with their sense of self-worth and experience depression because they feel like a burden.

Post-traumatic injury care gives your loved one time to process their feelings so they aren’t consumed by fear, worry, and guilt.

Mental Recovery

Accidents can trigger mental health issues, such as anxiety, phobias, and post-traumatic stress disorder. Receiving expert care in a post-traumatic injury care program enables medical professionals to identify signs of mental health issues.

What Role Does Mental Health Support Play In Post-Traumatic Injury Care?

When post-traumatic care staff identify signs of mental distress, they can refer patients to mental health professionals, ensuring your loved one receives the diagnosis and care they need to make a full recovery.

Physical Recovery

Physical injuries are the reason people enter post-traumatic injury care. Having constant access to medical professionals equipped to diagnose and treat physical injuries ensures your loved one receives comprehensive medical care to facilitate their physical recovery. Your loved one can also receive therapeutic services, including occupational and physical therapy, while in post-traumatic injury care.

Should I Consult A Specialist For Post-Traumatic Care, Or Can General Healthcare Providers Help?

When making healthcare decisions, it’s best to start with your loved one’s family doctor. Their family doctor understands their medical history, making it possible for them to identify significant changes that warrant specialized care. Your loved one’s family doctor can refer them to specialists or recommend specialized care.

How Does Post-Traumatic Injury Care Differ From Regular Physical Therapy?

Physical therapists create customized treatment plans for their patients. They use exercises to reduce their patients’ pain and improve their range of motion and balance. Physical therapy treatments typically last between 40 and 60 minutes, and patients may receive two or three sessions per week until the patient achieves their pain management and mobility goals. Patients receiving physical therapy may receive between 80 and 180 minutes of care per week.

Post-traumatic injury care delivers 24-hour care for individuals that go beyond pain management and mobility goals. Staff may help patients with personal care, give them medications, and provide any other assistance required throughout the day.

How Can I Support My Loved One Emotionally If They Are Undergoing Post-Traumatic Injury Care?

The best way to provide emotional support to a loved one in post-traumatic injury care is to spend time with them, listen to their concerns, and find ways to make them feel at home. Perhaps they play cards with neighbors once a week. You could bring the neighbors to them to continue their game nights. Bring photos, books, and other items they can enjoy.

What Are Signs Of A Good Post-Traumatic Injury Care Facility?

Look for a post-traumatic injury care facility with qualified, friendly staff who prioritize individualized care based on each patient’s needs. The facility should offer all essential therapeutic services on-site so your loved one doesn’t have to travel to medical appointments.

Good facilities offer activities that promote socialization, provide healthy meals, and clean environments.

Post-Traumatic Injury Care At Monument Health Group

Monument Health Group delivers expert post-traumatic injury care. Our highly qualified staff team prioritizes patient-centered care with all the on-site medical services your loved one needs.

Contact Monument Health Group today to discuss our post-traumatic injury care programs