Imagine this: Your elderly 85-year-old mother, who lives on her own, experienced a nasty fall, broke a few bones, and today is the day the hospital is releasing her. Leafing through her discharge papers reveals the need for medications, physical therapy, medical follow-up in several weeks, and a number of symptoms to watch for that would warrant a return to the E/R.
With a family of six to care for and a full-time job, is it possible to also make sure she sticks to her doctor's orders and can avoid another fall before she has even recovered from the last fall? Increasingly more often, family members are donning the role of caregiver for their senior parents – as many as 44 million and expanding, according to the AARP. Also, consider that after a hospitalization, the amount of elderly care provided often needs to be increased to ensure safety and prevent a return hospital stay. The following tips can help family caregivers keep their loved ones safe and assist in the recovery process at home:
Find more information. Don’t hesitate to question the medical team on elderly care items you do not understand well. This will help you know how to be a better caregiver for your loved one. Ask about who to call for help at any time of the day or night, and ask about symptom warning signs to watch for.
Keep your own care in mind as well. Elderly care for a loved one can be stressful, and can affect a caregiver's own health. Be sure to take time for relaxing and enjoyable activities, get plenty of rest, and eat a balanced diet.
Connect. Family members typically feel they have a responsibility to provide all of their loved one's care without outside help, but it’s in both you and your loved one's best interests to have a list of resources on hand to help: friends, extended family, neighbors, even a caregiving support group.
Independence-4-Seniors Home Care can help. We would welcome the opportunity to keep your loved ones safe and to make sure they’re recovering and thriving following a hospitalization. We'll be there when you need us, and look forward to serving as an essential component of your elderly care team. Let us know how we can help by filling out our short contact form.