During 2018, statistics show incredibly high rates of all-cause hospital readmissions within a month of the initial hospital stay or procedure. That year, there were 3.8 million people returned to the hospital, or about 14 for every 100 patients. To avoid this, make sure your senior has post-hospital care at home services.
Health Conditions With the Highest Readmission Rates
What causes hospital readmissions? Start by looking at the diseases or health issues that have the highest 30-day readmission rates. Medicare puts these at the top of the list.
- Pleurisy/pulmonary collapse (24.5%)
- Alcohol-related disorders (24.4%)
- Mental health/schizophrenia (23.9%)
- Anemia (23.3%)
- Congestive heart failure (23.3%)
- High blood pressure with complications (22.6%)
- Heart valve disorders (19.9%)
Those are the conditions that are more likely to lead to readmission, but what exactly leads to readmission and how do you prevent it?
1. Non-Compliance or Failure to Pay Attention
Is your dad likely to do what his doctors tell him? If he won’t follow directions or won’t clearly listen to what he’s told, it’s important to have post-hospital care arranged to ensure he’s doing the things he is supposed to.
2. Complications
Some health issues just have a higher risk for complications. Your dad was in the hospital for surgery. He’s been warned to watch for leg pain, a sign of deep vein thrombosis, and to make sure he’s taking measures to prevent it from happening. His nurse can help with compression stockings and ensure your dad follows the surgeon’s instructions to lower the risk.
3. Adverse Medication Reactions
Another of the top reasons for readmission is medication reactions. Ideally, your dad’s first dose of medication should be administered before he leaves the hospital. If there is a reaction, he’s with doctors and nurses. If he doesn’t have the first dose until he goes home, a home health nurse can help address issues with his doctor, which eases your stress and his.
4. Infection
Infections can become dangerous. If an incision doesn’t heal properly, it may require the incision to be opened up. It may need to be debrided. This can be extensive, so it’s important for incisions to heal properly. Skilled nurses can clean and rebandage healing wounds at your dad’s home rather than at a medical clinic.
Coordinate Post-Hospital Care Between the Hospital and our Agency
No matter what your dad was hospitalized with, he needs to do as his specialists instructed. Failure to follow instructions can lead to complications that require readmission. To avoid this, make sure he has post-hospital care at home. If he has nurses and home health care aides helping him during his recovery, it lowers the risk of readmission.
Talk about a post-hospital care plan with your dad’s medical team. Once you know what care he’ll need, talk to our agency and facilitate the conversation between doctors and home health care professionals.
Sources: https://www.hcup-us.ahrq.gov/reports/statbriefs/sb278-Conditions-Frequent-Readmissions-By-Payer-2018.jsp
If you or an aging loved one are considering Post-Hospital Care Services near Bethel CT, please call and talk to our friendly and dedicated staff. (203) 744-8380
Home Care Advantage provides quality Non-Medical Home Care for seniors and families in Danbury, Bethel, Easton, Newtown, Redding, Ridgefield, Southbury, Weston, Westport, Wilton, and surrounding areas.
With over 25 years of healthcare experience working with seniors, our model and approach to non-medical home care services are straightforward, providing you with the compassionate care you deserve. Providing care from the heart is what we are all about; we proactively work with you and your family to develop a care plan designed to meet your specific need for assistance and budget.
In addition to having an extensive work background in healthcare, my recent educational experience allowed me to earn my Doctorate Degree in public healthcare. This achievement enhanced my knowledge of the ever-evolving healthcare delivery system and heightened my awareness that you cannot go it alone to get the best outcome. Additionally, I have seen how some of my family members struggled and were overwhelmed with ensuring that their parents were safe and their needs were met. They did not know who to trust or where to turn for reliable and affordable help. I have made it our mission to be part of the solution allowing seniors to remain independent and be treated with the respect they deserve.
We are committed to providing excellent care for our clients, just as we would care for members of our own families. Please be assured that I will use my knowledge and background to protect and be a trusted resource for seniors and their families.
You can be confident that our caregivers are carefully screened, dependable, and selectively chosen to meet the specific needs of our clients. They are experienced and highly trained to provide excellent quality care and follow a strict professional code of conduct and ethics.
Our caregivers are competitively paid directly by our agency; there is no additional charge to you. Home Care Advantage files Social Security/Medicare, Federal and State Withholding Tax, and Unemployment Insurance for our employees. Workers’ compensation insurance and a fidelity bond cover the caregivers and supervisory staff.
Our caregivers are here for you and will work hard to assist you with your specific needs in the comfort of your own home. It is said that “Home is where the heart is.” Let Home Care Advantage provide care that will enrich your life and help you maintain an independent lifestyle in the comfort of your own home, “where you want to be.” Call us now! We look forward to working with you and your family.
Dr. Beverly J. Ruekberg, DHP, MPH, MA, Ed.
President/Geriatric Care Manager
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