Monitoring Senior Health After the Hospital

By Jamie Shapiro | September 4, 2024 | Comments Off on Monitoring Senior Health After the Hospital
Post-hospital care helps aging seniors recover from a hospital stay better, faster, and safer.

Post-hospital care helps aging seniors recover from a hospital stay better, faster, and safer.

When a senior family member leaves the hospital and comes home, there is a sense of relief and hope. For their recuperation, though, the days and weeks that follow their release are crucial. Complications may occur during this time, so it’s critical to recognize warning signs early to prevent future health problems and help them stay out of the hospital. Family members can access resources such as home care to help them learn what signs to look for to ensure seniors get the post-hospital care they need.

 

Physical Symptoms to Watch For

Often, the most overt signs that something is wrong are physical ones. Here are a few crucial signs that family members and your post-hospital care team should be aware of:

  • Fever or Chills: If seniors are recovering from an illness or surgery, a fever may be a sign of an infection. Additionally, fever and chills together can potentially indicate a significant medical issue that requires assistance right away.
  • Breathing Problems: If seniors are suddenly having trouble breathing, wheeze frequently, or cough a lot, it may indicate a respiratory condition, a cardiac condition, or an infection such as pneumonia.
  • Swelling or Redness: While redness surrounding a surgical site may suggest infection, swelling, particularly in the legs, may indicate fluid retention or a blood clot.
  • Pain: It’s important to take uncontrolled pain or new discomfort in a particular place seriously. Pain may indicate new problems that require treatment or difficulties associated with their condition.

 

Pay Attention to Mental and Emotional Shifts

Beyond physical signs, it’s also important to pay attention to seniors’ emotional and mental health when providing post-hospital care. Things to be mindful of include the following:

  • Disorientation or Confusion: Abrupt disorientation, memory loss, or trouble focusing could be signs of delirium, a condition that can be brought on by drugs, infections, or a deteriorating health issue.
  • Depression or Anxiety: Following a hospital visit, seniors frequently struggle with their emotions. On the other hand, depression or sadness that continues long after discharge or feelings of hopelessness and worry may indicate a need for intervention.
  • Severe Exhaustion: Although some degree of exhaustion is normal during the healing process, severe or deteriorating weariness may point to a more serious condition, such as anemia, an infection, or a cardiac condition.

 

Monitor Medication Side Effects

Although medications can have unintended consequences that must be watched for, they are frequently a necessary component of the healing process. However, if any of the following exist, family members or post-hospital care providers should talk with the medical team:

  • Dizziness or Fainting: Low blood pressure brought on by certain medications might induce dizziness or fainting. If this happens, family members should reach out to the medical team.
  • Nausea or Vomiting: Like dizziness or fainting, nausea or vomiting might be a common side effect. However, if it is constant, it may indicate an underlying problem that needs to be treated.
  • Rashes or Adverse Reactions: It’s important to be aware of any changes in a loved one’s skin that could point to an adverse reaction to a medicine, such as rashes, hives, or itching.
  • Changes in Appetite: A few medications may have an impact on appetite. If the impact is significant and the senior has drastically cut back on eating or is losing weight rapidly, it’s vital to talk with the medical team.

 

When providing post-hospital care for a senior loved one, it’s important to be mindful of signs that might indicate a need for medical intervention. Understanding these signs can help ensure seniors stay on track with their healing.

 

 

If you or an aging loved one are considering Post-Hospital Care in Skokie, IL, contact the caring staff at Companion Services of America today at (847) 948-0860. Our home care service area includes Northbrook, Highland Park, Deerfield, Glenview, Buffalo Grove, Evanston, Des Plaines, Skokie, Lake Forest, Wilmette, and the surrounding areas.

 

 

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Jamie Shapiro
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