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. 

Why You Should Have a Long Term Care Plan

Though it’s not always pleasant to acknowledge that your senior is getting older, long term care plans are an essential part of ensuring that your elderly loved one lives a high quality life in a comfortable setting. Start these discussions early in order to ensure that plans are in place when they are needed, and that everyone’s goals are met. There is a number of different long-term care options, including:

Home care

Home care professionals can assist your elderly family member with important daily tasks such as bathing, dressing, grocery shopping, and meal preparation. They can also ensure that your loved one is taking their medication each day. This option is beneficial for seniors who live well independently, but could use a little extra assistance. 

Day programs

Day programs allow seniors to interact with other people their age, while enjoying nutritious snacks and stimulating activities. This option is a great one for an elderly individual who doesn’t need constant supervision, but could benefit from some additional socialization during the day. They’ll participate in light exercise, field trips, arts and crafts activities, and other events, while getting help with their medication.

Assisted living

For seniors who need help with daily living tasks but don’t need the intensive level of care found in nursing homes, assisted living facilities are ideal. Eldercare professionals handle bathing, dressing, and administering daily medications. Your loved one resides in a safe place, with plenty of opportunity for socialization. They also enjoy much of the independence that they experienced when living on their own, without the risks that come along with it. 

Nursing homes

Nursing homes provide round-the-clock care for your senior, and are necessary for those who can no longer care for themselves independently. Services include help with bathing, using the restroom, eating, dressing, and taking medication. Elderly individuals can also get wound care and rehabilitative therapy.

With so many different long-term care options, a family must decide what appeals to their senior. Planning early allows those family members to assess all options thoroughly, and find an option that works with their senior’s needs and wishes most effectively. The ideal option will depend on your senior’s health, necessary care regimen, and ability to take care of themselves.  

New Year’s Resolutions for Caregivers

When you’re caring for an elderly loved one, it’s easy to put everyone else’s needs ahead of your own. However, as 2013 comes to a close, it’s time to make some resolutions to preserve your happiness and state of mind in the year ahead. Some great resolutions for caregivers in 2014 include:

Know that your efforts are appreciated

While your elderly loved one, siblings, and other family members may not say “thank you” as often as they should, know in your heart that your efforts are appreciated. It’s easy to wait for other people to acknowledge the work you put in, but this can leave you feeling disappointed. Don’t wait for other people to thank you for your efforts. Know that you are essential for your senior’s well being, and feel good about the work you do each day.

Take time for yourself

Your schedule is probably busy maintaining your relationship with your spouse, shuttling kids to appointments, and making sure that your senior’s fridge is fully stocked. Because of this, you may never take a moment to get your nails done, enjoy a good book, or simply sit and watch mindless television. However, in order to be the best caregiver you can be, eldercare professionals explain that taking time for yourself is one of the most important things you can do. Even if it’s just a half hour each day, when you’re caring for the elderly people in your life day in and day out, making time to rest and recharge is a must.

Ask for help

Nobody can do everything on their own. Even the most competent and capable people need backup sometimes to get to all of the tasks on their “to do” list. If you find yourself overwhelmed trying to prepare food for your senior, take them to appointments, and make sure that their home is clean, it may be time to call on a home care professional for assistance. 

Even having this person stop by once or twice a week to lend a hand may be the respite you need to feel reenergized and happy once again. This person can help with grocery shopping, light cleaning, meal preparation, and other tasks that are essential for your senior’s health. When it comes to home care, Chapel Hill based professionals explain that even just a little help can make a major difference in that caregiver’s life. 

Join a support group

Eldercare professionals also recommend that those who are regularly caring for elderly family members consider joining a support group. Caring for the elderly can be a struggle. It’s not easy to see parents age and weaken. However, a support group can be a powerful outlet to keep a caregiver feeling positive and relaxed.