WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW
Preventing hospital readmissions After returning home from a hospital stay, some people may find it difficult to remember when to take medications, how the medications should be administered and what the proper dosages are, or to get prescriptions refilled. In-home care provides medication reminders so medications are taken responsibly and on-time; caregivers can also monitor any side effects that may occur so that a doctor can be notified.
After a lengthy stay in the hospital due to an accident, surgery or illness, the thought of taking care of yourself can be scary and overwhelming—especially if your body is still recovering and you don’t feel up to everyday living tasks like bathing, cooking, cleaning or driving. After hospitalization, many people are afraid of not having adequate care—and for good reason. The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services reported in September 2019 that nearly 20 percent of people experience adverse events within three weeks of being discharged from the hospital, three-quarters of which were preventable.
Continuous care and monitoring by experienced inhome caregivers help identify potential problems faster. Caregivers can alert those who are recovering and their medical professionals of concerns that could cause readmission if not addressed early enough during the recovery process.
Many adverse events following hospital discharge are associated with the transition from hospital care to home. Assessing an individual’s ability to care for themselves and having adequate support and care after discharge can be difficult. As a result, people are often left without proper post-hospitalization care. Even those who have help from friends and family can face readmission after a hospital stay. This is often due to confusion and miscommunication during the discharge process from the hospital, or inadequate ability to provide care upon returning home.
Along with the safety value that in-home care provides, home care also allows individuals to recover in their own comfortable environment. Comfort alone can help people relax and recover a little faster, and these are just some of the many benefits that home care provides to those recovering after a hospital stay.
Post-hospitalization home care can reduce the risk of readmission and help ensure a speedy recovery.
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Professional in-home care Many of the risks that arise during post-hospital recovery can be reduced or eliminated by hiring a professional inhome aide who is trained and experienced in providing post-hospital care to people who need support.
of patients experience adverse events within 3 weeks of discharge (75% were preventable)
In-home caregivers can help with daily living tasks that could cause further injury. Feeding pets, preparing a meal, buying groceries—all of these simple activities can potentially cause an injury and require readmission. With the help of in-home caregivers, these activities can be safely taken care of.
$17B
($17 billion) annual costs of hospital readmissions
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SYNERGY HomeCare
