In-Home Care for Successful Recovery at Home

Senior In-Home Care  |  November 12, 2022

Changes in healthcare and advances in medicine have created a situation where patients are discharged from the hospital much sooner than previously. While the patients may be medically fit to return home, they are often not emotionally and mentally prepared for the in-home recovery process. Unfortunately, this can lead to patients returning to the hospital rather than recovering and thriving in the community. Offering the appropriate support at home, however, can give patients a feeling of security and increase their chances of a successful recovery.

One in five seniors is readmitted to the hospital within 30 days of discharge. Many factors contribute to this figure, including stressors the seniors face when returning home. Often admission to the hospital happens unexpectedly through an emergency situation. As a result, the senior may return home after an extended hospital stay to discover there is no food in the home, the bills may have been collected in the mail, the home may be in disarray, utilities may have been cut off due to lack of payment, and so forth. These immediate problems may prompt the senior to attempt to do more than (s)he is physically able.

Many seniors live alone as well and must deal with problem of taking care of themselves during the recovery stage. Even if there is a friend or family member to assist, it may only be for limited times during the day such as before or after work. Data show that individuals who felt safe were more prepared for recovering at home. Feeling safe extends beyond the physical aspects; those who felt they had support after discharge felt more prepared to face the recovery process. That support includes not being alone for extended periods of time. Studies indicate that a main concern of patients who discharge from a hospital is to manage themselves.

Additionally, the senior may be unprepare for what recovery “looks” like and may not be able to differentiate between normal physical changes during recovery and changes that indicate a problem and need a immediate review by a physician for intervention. This could result in either a panic that sends the senior to the hospital unnecessarily or, worse, in the senior ignoring symptoms of a serious problem believing they are normal for the recovery process.

There are numerous formal community services for seniors leaving the hospital. Often these services do not address the basic everyday needs. Further, the senior may have to apply for these services, causing a delay in services, and may have to meet eligibility requirements.

Easing the Transition Home
Ideally readying the senior for the return home should done before the senior’s discharge. Preparing the senior for the physical aspects of recovery by explaining what physical changes will be there and how (s)he can best manage his or her condition is important. There is also interesting data that support educating partners and spouses on the recovery process and illness. Studies show that when partner’s or spouse’s anxieties regarding the illness relieved, the patient has better chance of recovery.

In one study, when the spouse have appropriate timelines for the loved one to return to normal functioning, and when the condition and its causes explained clearly to the spouse, the stress of not knowing why the illness happens will relieve. Additionally, if the cause of the illness was attributable to high genetic risk, the patient and spouse were more motivated to make changes to factors they could control, such as increasing exercise and improving diet, thereby increasing the chance of recovery at home.

Before the senior leaves the hospital, it is important to speak with family members. This is about ensuring the senior’s bills paid and home is ready to help alleviate burden of daily responsibilities. Family or hospital personnel can arrange for an in-home service to prepare the home if friends or family aren’t available. In-home care by Comfort Keepers® ensures the home is clean, meals are ready, and assistance is available when the senior returns home so (s)he can focus on recovery rather than attempt to undertake tasks that are not recommended by his or her physician.

References

Boughton, M. & Halliday, L. (2009). Home alone: Patient and carer uncertainty surrounding discharge with continuing clinical care needs. Contemporary Nurse, 33(1), 30–40.

Broadbent, E., Ellis, C.J., Janine, T., Gamble, G., & Petrie, K.J. (Can an illness perception intervention reduce illness anxiety in spouses of myocardial infarction patients? A randomized controlled trial. Journal of Psychosomatic Research, 67, 11–15.

Grimmer, K., Moss, J., & Falco, J. (2004). Experiences of elderly patients regarding independent community living after discharge from hospital: A longitudinal study. International Journal for Quality in Health Care, 16(6), 465-472.

Heine J., Koch, S., & Goldie, P. (2004). Patients’ experiences of readiness for discharge following a total hip replacement. Australian Journal of Physiotherapy, 50, 227-233.

Landro, L. (2013, March 17). The hazards of leaving the hospital. The Wall Street Journal,
Retrieved from http://online.wsj.com/news/articles/SB10001424127887323826704578353131038599350

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