When an elderly family member has been ill on hospital, it can be a worrying time bringing them home so they can recover somewhere they feel safe and comfortable. And for the most part, recovering from an illness or injury can take a lot more time than people initially think.
This makes it really important to get the support and practicalities in place prior to them coming home, so you can support them as they need you to. Here are a few ways you can do just that.
Coordinate Follow-Up Appointments and Recovery Instructions
It’s really important that you understand what follow-up appointments will need to be kept for their recovery. It might be that there are numerous services coming to your home or that of your loved one, i.e., stroke recovery care or Macmillan nurses, for example. Or you might need to attend in-person appointments for ongoing monitoring, tests, or physio. Be aware of the volume and frequency, and what to expect and when.
From here, converse with the medical care team for things like medication, mobility limits, dietary guidance, wound care and medication administration if appropriate.
Know who is responsible for booking appointments and who to contact in an emergency, i.e., is there a department covering ongoing care or one physician, or do they need to go to their GP for future concerns?
Ask as many practical questions as you can prior to leaving the hospital so you have a clearer idea of what will need to be done.
Create A Daily Care Schedule
Recovery works best when carers are equipped and organised, and people know exactly who is doing what and when. If one person ends up with the bulk of the care, things can fall apart quickly, especially when juggling other responsibilities too.
Create a schedule that includes all aspects of care, have one person in charge of administering medication or making meals, one for bathing, or you can take it in shifts, so someone is there around the clock.
If you cannot manage full-time care between family and friends, then it might be worth looking into outside services that can support recovery, such as convalescence care, to manage recovery needs and reduce strain on family members during this time.
Install Mobility Aids
The exact type of recovery aids you’ll need will depend on the type of recovery you’re facing. Recovery from a broken hip, for example, will look different to someone going through cancer treatment or even recovering from brain surgery.
Talking to medical professionals or occupational therapists can enlighten you as to what type of aids you need. You might find you need a commode, for toileting in the bedroom or shower seats and grab handles work best. Walking frames or sticks can help with mobility, while text-to-speech can assist you if communication is a problem following a stroke.
Prepare Easy Meals and Hydration Options
This doesn’t mean relying on microwave meals, but it does mean having easy, nutritious go-to options. You can use meal delivery services if you prefer, which create balanced, nutritious and filling meals you simply reheat, or you can batch cook so all that’s needed is to reheat meals. Then, adding in healthy snacks where appropriate can help you to ensure your loved one is getting their nutritional needs met.
From here, having a plentiful supply of fresh water or drinks in various places around the home can be beneficial. A glass of water with medication is a good place to start. It doesn’t need to be plain water entirely; any type of hydration will help
