Seniors have a higher risk of being readmitted to the hospital right after a visit than people of any other age. Certain diagnoses make it more likely for seniors to be readmitted because they’re either more difficult to treat or they result in complications more frequently. If your senior loved one has one of the following seven diagnoses, make sure he or she gets the best possible care following a hospital stay.
1. Mobility Impairment
One of the initial diagnoses that’s most commonly linked to a need for readmission is simply difficulty moving around properly. A senior who falls once due to mobility limitations is more likely to have a second accident when trying to recover. If your loved one broke a hip or other large bone during the fall, he or she may be readmitted if it’s taking a long time for the injury to heal.
2. Cancer
It’s no surprise this chronic condition leads to frequent readmissions. Once seniors have been hospitalized for cancer treatment, they’re likely to end up back in the hospital within 30 to 180 days of being discharged.
3. Chest Infections
People who’ve been hospitalized with chest infections often end up in the hospital again because it’s so difficult to heal from this condition. Seniors have weakened immune systems, so a chest infection can linger for quite a while.
A professional caregiver can closely monitor your loved one for post-hospitalization complications. When searching for reliable home care agencies, families want to know their senior loved ones will be well taken care of. At Assisting Hands Home Care, our expertly trained caregivers are available around the clock to assist with tasks around the house, provide transportation to medical appointments and social events, and much more.
4. Myocardial Infarction
Also called a heart attack, this blockage of blood flow to the heart tends to result in future infarctions. Unless your loved one is able to address the underlying issues that caused the infarction, he or she may end up back in the hospital with another heart attack. Treatments for infarctions may also result in blood clots or unchecked bleeding that requires additional time in the hospital.
Many aging adults need assistance when they return home after being hospitalized. Some seniors only require help with a few daily tasks so they can maintain their independence. However, those living with serious illnesses may need more extensive assistance. Luckily, there is professional Annapolis live-in care seniors can rely on. Home can be a safer and more comfortable place for your loved one to live with the help of an expertly trained and dedicated live-in caregiver.
5. COPD
Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is a type of lung condition that makes it difficult to breathe, and this tends to cause hospital readmissions because it keeps oxygen from properly circulating throughout the body. A lack of oxygen impairs healing abilities, so seniors with COPD have higher readmission rates regardless of what condition caused the first admission.
6. Diabetes
Like COPD, diabetes is a chronic condition that makes it difficult to heal from other health issues. Regardless of whether their first hospital visits were for diabetes-related problems, diabetic seniors are more likely to need additional hospital visits because they aren’t healing from surgery or other wounds.
7. Stroke
Seniors who have had strokes in the past always have a higher risk of hospital readmission, partly because strokes tend to cause mobility and cognitive issues that make seniors more likely to get injured. Some senior stroke survivors also have difficulty with blood clots or weakened blood vessels that make second strokes more likely.
A professional caregiver can be a wonderful source of support for a senior who’s recovering after being hospitalized. The type of in-home care Annapolis seniors need can vary. Some need assistance a few hours a day, while others require more extensive around-the-clock assistance. At Assisting Hands Home Care Annapolis, we tailor our care plans based on each senior’s individual care needs, and the plans can be adjusted at any time. Call today to speak with a friendly and experienced Care Manager to formulate a Senior home care Annapolis plan for your loved one.
