A successful discharge means a patient is ready to leave the hospital and be able to safely manage their condition at home. Discharge from hospital to home requires the successful transfer of information from medical professionals to the patient and family in order to reduce adverse events and prevent unnecessary readmissions. Patients and families need to be part of the hospital discharge planning process as this is found to make the transition from hospital to home after surgery safe and effective.
Navigating the Transition from Hospital to Home After Surgery
The patient and family members should be prepared as much as possible for what life at home will be like. They should have an understanding of their condition and any medication requirements, understand how to spot warning signs and problems and have the dates of any follow-up appointments.
Good communication between professionals is vital and can prevent:
- Avoidable hospital readmissions
- Unnecessary admissions to care homes
- Care and support needs remain unmet
- Delayed transfers of care
The discharge coordinator at the hospital is responsible for:
- Agreeing on a discharge plan with the person and the community-based team.
- Arranging follow-up care and any specialist equipment and support that may be needed.
- Agreeing the plan for ongoing treatment and support with the community team and maintaining regular contact with them.
A copy of the discharge plan should be given to the patient and family and also the team responsible for providing the home care. A discharge plan sets out the kind of care the patient will need after they leave the hospital. Discharge plans can help to prevent future readmissions, and they should make the move from the hospital to home or another facility as smooth and as safe as possible.
A discharge plan should include:
- Information about the person’s condition.
- Information about medication.
- Contact information for after they have been discharged.
- Arrangements for social and health care support, including family support.
- Information and contact details of other useful services.
What is Home Care?
Home care is a range of support and care services provided to people in their own homes. It is typically aimed at elderly people, those with disabilities, and people recovering from illness or surgery.
You may have to consider home care if you are finding it difficult to cope with daily routines, such as taking care of your own personal hygiene, getting dressed or getting out independently, or if you do not wish to move into a care home but you need additional help in order to remain living in your own home. Having home care in place should generally improve your quality of life on a day-to-day basis.
Home care can cover a wide range of help at home, including:
- Personal care – this can include assistance with tasks like getting out of bed in the morning, bathing, dressing, and toileting.
- Help with medication – this can include help with administering medicine or simply reminders to take it.
- Meal preparation – this can include planning and cooking meals tailored to specific dietary needs and preferences.
- Emotional support and companionship – this can include participation in social activities, providing emotional support, and someone to talk to.
- Help with household chores – this can include cleaning, laundry, shopping, and other household tasks.
- Assistance with mobility issues – this can include assistance with mobility and transfers, using mobility aids if necessary.
- Support for people to be as active as possible – this will depend on the capabilities of the individual receiving the care.
- Health monitoring – this can include observing and reporting any changes in health or well-being.
- Respite care – this can help to give family carers a break for a short period.
- End-of-life care – this can include any type of help or care needed when someone has a terminal illness.
Who May Need Home Care?
Home care can be beneficial for people who require extra care in order for them to be able to remain living in their own homes. This can include:
- The elderly
- Post-surgery patients
- People with disabilities
- People with a chronic health condition
- People with an advanced, progressive illness. This is also known as palliative care
- People with a terminal illness and those requiring end-of-life care
Transitioning From Hospital to Home Care
The first 30 days following a patient’s discharge from a hospital and return home are crucial to recovery, especially if you were hospitalized for heart failure or heart attack.
This is especially true as you get older since many of us might need temporary special care and support to avoid complications that can send us back to the hospital. Making sure you have a smooth discharge process and transition from hospital to home is not something many people consider.
If you are a patient or family member of a patient who has recently been discharged, here are a few tips on how you can make the hospital-to-home transition as safe and successful as possible:
Know Your Medications, Especially the New Ones
Fill the prescription right away and do not wait for your first clinic appointment. Your doctor in the hospital should work closely with your family caregiver or home care agency to share information about medications you need to recover and stay healthy. Drug interactions and dosages are important to know, so discuss these with your doctor, nurse, and pharmacist. Keep your medications organized and keep a tab on what doses were given at which time. Be careful not to run out of medicine, and be sure to discard old medications you no longer take.
Avoid Risks of Injury or Falls
You are often weakest following a surgical procedure or hospitalization and won’t be able to get around like you normally do. Certain new medications may make you dizzy or unsteady for the first few days. Check your house for any areas or objects, such as throw rugs, that may increase the risk of injury. Do not be afraid to ask for assistance when you are standing, walking, getting out of bed, or bathing. If needed, come up with a schedule of friends and family who can help. Would home healthcare be helpful?
Avoid Overexertion
Do not try to do too much during your recovery. Ask for help.
Keep Your Follow-up Appointments
Your care provider can recognize any early problems that may be silently worsening after your discharge.
For some conditions, you should be seen by a care provider multiple times over the next 30 days. In addition to your follow-up appointments, physical therapy is often integral to recovery from surgeries so be sure to not miss these sessions.
Make Necessary Lifestyle Changes
While changing your diet and fitness habits or quitting smoking can be hard, they are an important part of your recovery and prevent your heart failure or other conditions from worsening. Surgical site infections and stomach stress ulcers are less common in those who quit smoking.
Don’t Be Shy About Asking Questions
Whether you have questions about changing medications or don’t completely understand how to care for a post-surgery wound, your care team will be able to explain this important information. Take notes and ask for instructions to be repeated if you don’t understand clearly. Prior to being discharged from a hospital, patients receive a customized Personal Health Record that contains warning signs, a phone number to call with questions, medication instructions, and spaces to write questions for the pharmacist, case manager, or primary care provider.
How Will You Know if Recovery Isn’t Going Well?
Make sure your care team has provided you with a list of red flags and symptoms to look for. Weight gain, for instance, is a primary indication of worsening heart failure, so keep track of your weight. You can catch worsening heart failure before a return visit to the hospital becomes necessary.
Promedcare
Being a family-owned business, the owners of Promedcare are engaged in the day-to-day operations and get to know both clients and caregivers on a first-name basis. Having both owners and staff present vs. working remotely with our clients creates a feel of FAMILY and allows Promedcare to create an environment of care that reduces turnover and increases dedication to the brand. We provide 24/7 service with the ability to interact with Senior Management and the owners as needed.
Promedcare has evolved into a caring business that focuses on individuals’ specific needs and preferences. This type of care fosters independence, happiness, and a sense of familiarity by acknowledging older individuals’ desire to age in the comfort of their own homes.
For some, it’s to provide extensive ongoing care for an aging senior. For others, we offer a much-needed break or, respite care – such as a night out with a spouse, vacation, or simply a few hours of quiet time at home – for family members who provide regular care. We offer a wide range of care services customized for each individual client.
Promedcare services include Personal Care Services, Companion Care Services, Dementia / Alzheimer’s Care Services, and Respiratory Solutions.
Contact us today to see how Prodmedcare can help you!