A hospital stay can be very frightening – especially for elderly patients. The senior looks forward to leaving the hospital, and going home. However, we routinely see elderly patients discharged from the hospital, only to “bounce back” to the emergency room after a short period of time. This “bounce back” means repeated hospital admissions, and a steady decline in the senior’s overall health. Ultimately, care facilities and nursing homes are required, as the care required is too significant for the home setting.
Although families often believe that mom or dad will simply return to “normal” once they are discharged from the hospital, our experience and independent studies show that this is typically not the case. Patients are released from hospitals “quicker and sicker” than in the past. Studies show that 40 percent of patients over 65 had medication errors after leaving the hospital, and 18 percent of Medicare patients are readmitted within 30 days.
Studies also show that a “discharge plan” and monitoring is critical after hospitalization. Without a discharge plan, that senior will likely “bounce back” to the hospital (be readmitted) within just a few months. A cycle begins of repeated “bounce back” hospitalizations. The senior weakens, their declining physical health affects their mental health, and their quality of life becomes very poor. Many become permanent residents in long-term care facilities, because the level of care needed can no longer be managed in the home.
Family members and healthcare providers play a critical role in maintaining a patient’s health after discharge. There is a surprising lack of knowledge, communication and consistency in the process and quality of discharge planning. Not all hospitals provide appropriate discharge planning – although they will claim they do. For more information about what you should know before your loved one is discharged from the hospital, please visit our website at www.janemcnamara.com.
The Law Firm may be reached at 661-287-3260. Additionally, for information about veteran’s benefits to help pay for long-term care, please visit www.VAbenefits4seniors.com.