How to Prevent Hospital Readmission

If you or your aging loved one was recently discharged from the hospital, it is a crucial time to set up a plan that will ensure success in the long run. Hospital readmission is common among the elderly, as they often do not take care of themselves after they have been discharged from the hospital. Having the right team behind you or your loved one that has an effective plan will decrease the chances of returning to the hospital with complications from their original medical condition. Take a look at these tips to prevent hospital readmission.

• Get a clear understanding of the care plan. You or your aging loved one may need to take medications daily and monitor their health such as their blood pressure, blood sugar levels, etc. It is important to ask the doctors for a plan that is written out, clear to understand and can be placed somewhere accessible in the home. It is also a good idea to make copies of this plan and share it with close family and friends, to make sure that you or your loved one will have reminders provided to them by friends and family.
• Keep in contact with the doctors. Make sure you ask the doctor for their contact information, should the need arise. It is also a good idea to check in with them from time to time. Without being too persistent, it is important to notify them of any changes that you or your loved one is experiencing. This includes but is not limited to a reaction to the medicine, a problem with recovery or your loved one refusing to continue their medicine.
• Make the necessary follow up appointments and attend them. It is one thing to make the appointments that your doctor recommends but showing up to those appointments is crucial. These appointments are made so that your doctor can get an idea of how your recovery is going, what they need to do to help you and what the next course of action is based on your needs. These appointments are crucial to keeping you or your loved one out of the hospital and comfortable at home.
• Hire a caregiver to help you or your loved one recover comfortably at home. Having an in-home caregiver can prevent you from missing medications, drive to you to your follow up appointments and can call your doctors on your behalf. It is important that you have a support system that will help you or your loved one stay out of the hospital and at home. An in-home caregiver can give you the companionship, assistance and professional help needed to keep you from being readmitted into the hospital.

After a hospital stay, going home can feel like a relief and liberating. In order to stay out of the hospital, it is imperative to follow the steps above. We hope that you have a speedy, smooth and easy recovery.