Who cares for your family member after a hospital stay?

If your older family member is admitted to the hospital for an illness or surgery, do you know your care and rehab options once they are discharged?

Even after a hip replacement, an older patient may stay in the hospital only three or four days, depending on their progress. It is so important to work with the appropriate hospital staff, such as a case worker or discharge planner, quickly to determine the best rehabilitation option to recuperate and prevent a readmission. The hospital staff can help you understand the level of skilled care and services needed for their rehabilitation.

Research shows that between 15-20% of patients, who are discharged from the hospital, will be readmitted with 30 days or less. Often times, these readmissions could be preventable. It is important to understand the three primary options of where your family member can be cared for after a hospital stay and what is the best fit for your situation.

Skilled Nursing Facility.

If your loved one requires round-the-clock monitoring and skilled nursing care after a hospital stay, then moving them into a skilled nursing facility is necessary. If your loved one is dealing with a debilitating medical problem and require constant aftercare and treatment, their doctor may order inpatient services for their acute medical condition. Skilled nursery facilities can feel clinical and most patients will share a room.

Home Health Services.

If your loved one needs part time or intermittent services, a licensed medical professional can be scheduled to visit the home. The success of home health services depends on the support system of their living situation. Getting plenty of rest in a familiar environment can be good for recuperation. But if a patient is living alone, they may feel isolated. Rehabilitation exercises may need to be done independently and require the patient to be self-motivated. If you feel as though your loved one is too unstable or weak to live alone and there are no family members who can care for them, then home services may not be the best fit.

Assisted Living.

Many families are unaware that assisted living communities offer short term stays for patients released from the hospital to to live while they recuperate. Assisted living communities can offer nursing care, therapy services, and 24-hour care staff in a homey environment. Basic needs like the activities of daily living, such as getting dressed, making meals and bathing, can greatly reduce stress for both the patient and family members. Most communities can provide transportation to and from doctor and therapy appointments. Assisted living communities provide peer support, activities, and socialization that aid in healing and mental well-being. Many times, a patient will enjoy the community and opt to stay as a permanent resident.

In the case of an emergency hospital stay, Áegis Living has recently launched a new public service, the Red Crisis File. A member of the Áegis team will walk a caregiver or family members through a checklist to gather the state required documentation needed to move a loved one into a respite stay, assisted living, or memory care. This is a free service that can be completed before an emergency for peace of mind. Contact an Áegis Living communitytoday to be prepared in the case of an emergency, such as a hospital stay.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the best care option after a hospital stay?

The best care option after a hospital stay depends on the patient's medical needs and home support system. The three primary options are a skilled nursing facility for round-the-clock medical care, home health services for part-time professional visits in a familiar environment, and assisted living for short-term respite stays that combine nursing care, therapy, help with daily activities, and socialization. Work with the hospital case worker or discharge planner to match the level of care needed to the right setting and help prevent readmission.

How long can someone stay in assisted living for rehab?

Assisted living communities offer short-term respite stays for patients recuperating after a hospital stay, with the length of stay tailored to the individual's recovery needs. Many patients use this time to regain strength with the support of nursing care, therapy services, and 24-hour staff, and some choose to remain as permanent residents once they experience the community's peer support, activities, and homey environment.

What's the difference between skilled nursing and home health?

Skilled nursing facilities provide round-the-clock inpatient monitoring and treatment for patients with acute or debilitating medical conditions, typically in a clinical setting where most patients share a room. Home health services, by contrast, are part-time or intermittent visits from a licensed medical professional in the patient's own home, which works best when the patient has a strong support system and is stable enough to be on their own between visits.