Most families would agree that keeping a senior out of the hospital is an important goal. That’s because professionals who work with older adults know that some seniors who are hospitalized don’t always go home the same. Or, they don’t go home at all.
And yet, research reveals that many of these hospitalizations could be prevented, according to a survey of 400 North American nurses who specialize in senior care and conducted by Home Instead, Inc., franchisor of the Home Instead Senior Care® network. In fact, this new research showed that nearly half (48.5%) of these hospitalizations could be avoided if the proper preventative steps are taken.
In fact, these five preventative actions can help reduce the potential risk that an older adult will end up in the hospital:
1. Follow doctor’s orders
2. Don’t ignore symptoms
3. Reduce risks of falls and accidents
4. Stay active physically and mentally
5. Maintain a healthy diet
There’s another vital factor in keeping seniors out of the hospital. It’s family. Nearly 100% of the nurses surveyed agreed that a family’s role in helping to keep seniors healthy and out of the hospital is as important as that of the medical community. In spite of that, less than half (48.6%) of the seniors they see have family members who serve as active advocates for their care, according to the survey.
Download the 5 Ways Guide, offered by the Home Instead Senior Care® network, to learn about five preventative actions that could keep an older adult out of the hospital. This guide identifies potential warning signs and risks as well as some solutions
For yourself or your clients, this compact guide is loaded with tips and resources to help prevent unplanned senior hospitalizations. The book goes well beyond fall prevention to share some lesser-known risk factors, along with strategies to mitigate them.
CAREGivers from Home Instead Senior Care can make a difference in the lives of older adults and their families by providing support with activities of daily living to help keep them independent for as long as possible. For more information about Home Instead Senior Care visit www.homeinstead.com/greaterpittsburgh or call 1-866-996-1087
Throughout the year, our writers feature fresh, in-depth, and relevant information for our audience of 40,000+ healthcare leaders and professionals. As a healthcare business publication, we cover and cherish our relationship with the entire health care industry including administrators, nurses, physicians, physical therapists, pharmacists, and more. We cover a broad spectrum from hospitals to medical offices to outpatient services to eye surgery centers to university settings. We focus on rehabilitation, nursing homes, home care, hospice as well as men’s health, women’s heath, and pediatrics.
