When a loved one is discharged from a hospital or other healthcare facility, it may seem as though the difficult part of recovery is behind him or her. This is often not the case, however. In fact, about two out of every 10 hospitalizations is a re-admittance after a prior discharge due to an improper transition back to the home environment. By carefully planning your loved one’s transition with the help of an agency for in-home care near Memphis , you can greatly facilitate his or her recovery. Seeking help from an in-home care agency can provide a safer environment in the home, and also ease the burden on family caregivers.

Planning Ahead
Planning ahead for your loved one’s care at home is critical. You can consult your loved one’s healthcare team to determine the type of support he or she may need. Many families underestimate the amount of care a loved one will need and overestimate their ability to provide it. Consider visiting an in-home care agency to arrange home care for your loved one. These services are available on a short-term and long-term basis.

Modifying the Home Environment
Walk through your loved one’s home before he or she is discharged. After consulting with his or her healthcare/discharge team, you may determine that some modifications are necessary to ensure safety. For example, you may need to install grab bars/shower chair in the bathtub. If your loved one cannot yet manage stairs and the bedroom is on an upper level, you can rent a hospital bed to place downstairs. You may also need to have assistive devices and healthcare supplies in the home for your loved one, such as a walker, disposable gloves, and bedside potty.

Following Discharge Instructions
Once your loved one is discharged, a home health aide can assist with tasks such as meal preparation, housekeeping, ambulation, bathing, dressing, and toileting. After the family caregiver has filled all necessary prescriptions, a schedule can be arranged with your in-home care agency for medicine reminders. The family caregiver along with the discharge planner can determine and arrange necessary services at home, such as home health care, physical therapy or occupational therapy.

When a loved one is first diagnosed with a serious illness, it’s common for families to meet with specialists, explore treatment options, and consider clinical trials. At a certain point, healthcare providers may inform the patient that the treatments aren’t working and that he or she is not a candidate for other curative options. This doesn’t mean that the patient will no longer receive care; however, services will transition from curative treatments to palliative care. End-of-life care is often provided by Caring Companions in Memphis, who may be working in conjunction with a hospice care program.

Care Team
An end-of-life care team is typically comprised of many different professionals. A patient may have elder care companions who provide services such as light housekeeping, meal preparation, companionship, and personal care. Nurses from the hospice care program can visit the patient’s home to assess his or her needs and determine how to improve quality of life . The hospice team may also include social workers, trained volunteers, spiritual counselors, or members of the clergy.

Palliative Care
The hospice care team provides palliative care, which can take many different forms. Palliative care does not focus on treating the condition; rather, it is intended to manage symptoms to provide greater comfort at the end of life. A nurse can help the patient manage his or her pain and other symptoms. He or she may provide prescription medications or medical supplies for symptom management. For example, if a patient can no longer get out of bed to go to the bathroom, the nurse can insert a catheter that will stay in place and drain into a special bag.

Family Support
An important component of end-of-life care is support for the whole family. A hospice care team can offer the family practical assistance and psychological counseling. For instance, a hospice nurse can instruct family members on how to properly set the controls on oxygen therapy equipment, how to lift and transfer the patient, and how to administer medications. A spiritual or psychological counselor can be there to offer emotional support to family members as they struggle to cope with anticipatory grief during their loved one’s illness and the grieving process after the passing.

One of the hardest decisions adult children face is recognizing when their parents need care. This reversal of roles can be difficult for everyone to handle at first, but making decisions about care as soon as you notice signs that your parents need assistance gives you the freedom to make choices without the pressure of an emergency situation.

This infographic from Caring Companions details some of the signs that your parents could benefit from home care and how to start a conversation about home health care with your family. Our caregivers serving Memphis can provide a range of care services, from hospice and Alzheimer’s care to basic elder care duties. Call us to learn how we can give you peace of mind about your parents’ wellbeing, and please share this information to help others who are also facing difficult decisions about their aging family members.