Your father was recently hospitalized, but fortunately he has been discharged. It can be a great feeling to finally get out of that hospital environment, the stale food, the lack of entertainment options, or even noisy, obnoxious roommates. No matter how long he spent in the hospital, being wheeled out of that building, breathing in the fresh air, and being able to return home is an exhilarating emotion.
He doesn’t want to return anytime soon. No one really wants to spend more time in the hospital, but average readmission rates hover in the mid teens (percentage-wise). Technically speaking, a hospital readmission occurs when a patient is readmitted within 30 days of their discharge. While the federal government measures readmission rates within a 30 day interval, some hospitals gauge their rates at 60 and 90 day intervals instead.
Even though a readmission might never have crossed your father’s mind, if he is not adhering to doctor’s recommendations, doesn’t have the right support at home, he could be elevating his risk of precisely that.
How does proper home care make a difference?
Let’s say, for example, your father was hospitalized following a minor heart attack. It was a significant scare for everyone, including you. You rushed to the hospital when you heard, spoke with some of his doctors and nurses, and he was in relatively good spirits. He went through a battery of tests and it was determined that there was minimal damage to the heart itself.
This is all good news and when he was discharged, he had a long list of instructions and recommendations from his doctor. There were certain prescription medications he would begin taking and he certainly needed to pay attention to side effects, including nausea, dizziness, weakness, difficulty sleeping, and so forth.
There were also some exercises and activities he was encouraged to try. However, you know he just suffered a heart attack. Why in the world would he want to put himself at risk of another attack by taking part in strenuous activities?
An experienced home care aide would understand the value in exercise for strengthening heart muscles. Family far too often see risks in these things and discourage activity. If your father is feeling tired, worn out, and run down during those first days or weeks after discharge, he may not fight you about exercise.
That would not help him get healthy. That could, in fact, increase his risk of a readmission. That’s why home care is such a valuable asset to keep in mind.
