Wednesday, January 8, 2014

Tips for Seamlessly Moving Your Senior from the Hospital to a Nursing Home

Making the transition from hospital to nursing home can be a challenge for the elderly individual and their family alike. Your loved one may be resistant to the idea of heading to a nursing home, and you may feel concerned about whether they’re actually ready to leave. Use these tips to help make the transition seamless:

Figure out who’s in charge

You’re not alone when it comes to making this transition. Eldercare professionals advise families to figure out who’s handling your senior’s discharge from the hospital. Some hospitals may have a discharge coordinator, while others rely on the primary nurse to navigate the transition. 

This individual can become a powerful resource when it comes to getting your senior accustomed to their new living conditions. They can ensure that your loved one is heading to a place where they’ll be well cared for. Additionally, if you’re wary about letting your elderly loved one leave the hospital, they can have a discussion with you about what’s appropriate given their current state.

This person can also help to give you a sense of what your loved one’s recovery process will look like. They can provide guidance about the kinds of medications your senior will be taking, and may also offer information about training or other services that are available for the family.

Do your own research

However, senior care professionals explain that a family shouldn’t rely fully on hospital staff members or nursing home personnel to help guide the transition. To ensure that your elderly loved one receives the best care, you’ll want to do your own research too. Look into the top nursing homes in the area, learn about the side effects of the medications your senior is taking, and figure out what the healing process entails. When you have information, you feel better equipped to help them make the transition seamlessly.

Another way to prevent errors as your elderly family member moves from hospital to nursing home is to get copies of medical records. This allows you to ensure that they are sent with any and all necessary medication, and that everyone is on the same page about dosage. 

3 comments:

  1. Researching the senior care options is a good idea. My parents are so important to me. I'd take care of them myself if I was able. Since I can't, I want to get the next best thing for them.

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  2. When we moved my grandma into a home, we wanted to figure out the best way possible to make it an easy switch. I agree that research can help with the approach of the situation. There are a lot of good ways to make the move easier. It can be a stressful situation, it makes sense to do whatever you can to make it easier. http://www.southfloridahomecare.com/

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  3. I agree that it is important to do your own research. I don't want to have to pester the doctors too much about health concerns of moving my elderly mother back home. I want her to stay healthy and get the best care that she can.
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