When a parent is coming home from the hospital, help at home is invaluable.
Your 90-year-old mother, who has been living independently, recently experienced a fall that resulted in a cracked pelvis. After spending time in the hospital, she is finally coming home from the hospital today. As you quickly go over her release paperwork, you begin to feel a wave of anxiety wash over you. The list of responsibilities is long and daunting: picking up prescriptions, arranging transportation for physical therapy sessions, scheduling follow-up medical appointments, and keeping an eye out for symptoms that could signal complications and necessitate another hospital visit.
Balancing these new caregiving duties with your already full plate of working over 40 hours a week and raising three children seems overwhelming. Is it realistic to manage her home care on your own, ensuring that she follows her medical orders and remains safe from further falls? The reality is that you’re not alone in this situation. In fact, according to the AARP, there are approximately 44 million Americans who are currently taking on the role of caregiver for their aging parents, a number that continues to grow. However, it’s important to recognize when the burden may be too heavy, and that’s where home care services, like those offered by Advanced Home Health Care, can make a significant difference.
After a hospital stay, the level of care needed often increases, especially for older adults who are at risk of complications or further injury. To help keep a loved one safe and to ease the transition from hospital to home, here are some essential tips for adult children caring for their aging parents:
- Ask Questions and Gather Information: Before leaving the hospital, make sure to ask the medical team all the questions you need answered. Understanding the full extent of your mother’s care requirements is crucial. Clarify who to call for assistance, what warning signs to watch for, and what her recovery plan entails. This can help you feel more confident and prepared for what lies ahead.
- Prioritize Self-Care: Taking care of a loved one can be physically and emotionally taxing. It’s easy to forget to look after yourself when you’re focused on someone else’s needs. However, maintaining your own well-being is essential if you’re going to provide the best care possible. Be sure to eat well, get enough sleep, and make time for activities that bring you joy. Remember, you can’t pour from an empty cup.
- Build a Support Network: You might feel like you should handle everything on your own, but caregiving is not a one-person job. Reach out to friends, family members, neighbors, and even local caregiving support groups. Having a network of support can make all the difference. Make a list of people you can call on for help, whether it’s running errands, providing respite care, or just offering a listening ear.
- Consider Professional Home Care Services: The reality is that often, the best way to ensure an older loved one’s safety and comfort is to seek outside assistance. Home care services from Advanced Home Health Care can provide the extra support your family needs, whether it’s helping with daily activities, managing medication, or offering companionship. Our caregivers are trained to ensure that seniors recover comfortably and safely after a hospital stay, reducing the risk of re-hospitalization.
Navigating this transition can be overwhelming, but you don’t have to do it by yourself. At Advanced Home Health Care, we understand how stressful it can be to care for a loved one, especially after a hospitalization. We’re here to offer support and make the process easier for you and your family. Whether you need ongoing care or temporary assistance, we can help.
Give us a call at 800.791.7785 to learn more about how our services in Burlington, Fort Madison, Keokuk, and the surrounding areas in Southeast Iowa can supplement your efforts and keep an older loved one safe and healthy.
