Page 10 • May 2022 • Golden Gazette
5 questions to ask before a senior goes home from hospital Older adults face unique perils from hospitalization, experts are quick to point out. Delirium, functional decline, and medication toxicity represent just three problems that tend to affect seniors more than younger patients. Recovering from a contagious disease can make decisions around leaving the hospital even more complex. At discharge, seniors may feel overwhelmed by the amount of information they must digest, from pages of discharge instructions to a multitude of follow-up appointments they must coordinate. Perhaps this explains why many seniors experience rehospitalization. Here are five questions to ask to help prevent a loved one from winding back up in the hospital.
1. Does the older adult live alone? When a senior goes home after a hospitalization, he or she may require a high level of care for some period of time in order to move about safely, perform Activities of Daily Living such as bathing, eat nutritiously and get to follow-up medical appointments. Seniors who live alone may lack the support they need to recuperate safely. Is someone available 24 hours a day to provide any care the senior may need? If not, consider professional in-home care services to help your loved one stay safe and avoid re-hospitalization.
2. Does your loved one need to quarantine because of a contagious illness? Assess a loved one’s ability to understand home isolation recommendations.
New Neighbors, May 13 New Neighbors Club of Lubbock will hold its last meeting / luncheon of the year at the Lubbock Women’s Club, 2020 Broadway on May 13. The meeting will start at 10:30 a.m. and will be the installation of the 2022-23 officers. Cost for the luncheon is $18, and reservations are required at least 3 days in advance. Members, check your email and spam email for your Evite, or contact Virginia by texting 806-781-4653. If unable to attend, cancel by Tuesday before the event by calling Peggy at 806-798-1314 (no texts, not a cell). Optional games afterwards; contact your game leader.
Consider whether the older adult has a psychiatric disorder or medical condition that could make understanding recommendations or maintaining social distancing difficult.
3. Is the older adult at risk for polypharmacy issues? Seniors often get discharged home with a slew of prescriptions after a hospitalization — some of which may be in addition to any medications they have been taking routinely. Seniors who take multiple medications may be at risk for polypharmacy issues, including poor adherence to their medications regimen or adverse drug interactions. You can help them avoid possible polypharmacy issues by: • Evaluating their current medications list, including any new medications and over-the-counter drugs and supplements • Identifying potential drug interactions • Eliminating unnecessary or redundant medications • Creating a simplified medication schedule
You can help older adults home, visit Prevent Senior avoid this scenario by talk- Hospitalizations. Call 1-855ing with them about their 969-6345. - CaregiverStress.com nutrition, how much they eat, and how they plan to prepare meals once they get home. If it appears they will Lubbock,Texas have trouble maintaining 806-744-2220 adequate intake or preparing nutritional food, consider GOLDEN GAZETTE is pubrecommending an in-home lished monthly by Word Pubcare service provider like lications, 2022 82nd St., Lubtheir local whose profesbock, Texas 79423. sional caregivers can develop Submitting information News items, letters to the editor, menu plans, shop for healthphotographs, and other items ful foods, and cook nutritious may be submitted for publicameals for seniors.
5. If the older adult needs to go out, does he or she have access to transportation?
Obtaining follow-up care on schedule after a hospitalization is important to a successful recovery. Outpatient providers often can catch warning signs of health or recovery problems before they lead to a readmission. Do your senior patients have either the functional ability to drive themselves to and from appointments or to take public transportation? If they do not, help them secure assistance from family members or professional 4. Will the senior be able to maintain a healthy diet? caregivers to take them to Hospital food may be the follow-up appointments. Asking these five quesbrunt of many jokes, but nutions prior to discharge can trition is a serious issue. Eating poorly before or help older adults avoid reafter discharge can put an hospitalization. For additional resources, older adult at risk for physical weakness that could lead including sample checklists to help seniors stay safe at to falls – and readmission.
tion.
Letters All letters must include the writer’s name, address and telephone number. Anonymous letters will not be published. If chosen for publication, only your name and city will be printed with your letter. We prefer letters that are fewer than 200 words. Letters may be edited for clarity, factual information, and length. Personal attacks on individuals will not be published.
Advertising Advertising rates are available by calling 744-2220 or emailing maedwards@wordpub.com or cswinney@wordpub.com.
Subscriptions For a subscription, send a check to Golden Gazette, 2022 82nd St., Lubbock 79423. $30 for one year, or $60 for 2 years. Staff: Jo Anne Corbet, Dr. Elva Edwards, Mary Ann Edwards, Randal Hill, Calva Ledbetter, John Martin, Gary McDonald, Cathy Mottet, Cary Swinney
View the Gazette online:
www.wordpub.com
