If your senior parent has been in the hospital being treated for a medical problem like a heart attack, a stroke, a surgery, or even a fall, it’s a big relief when they are well enough to come home. But just because they were released doesn’t mean they are totally well. Often seniors need a month or more to recover at home after a major medical event. And while your senior parent is recovering at home they will need post-hospital care. Post-hospital care isn’t medical care, but post-hospital care providers do need to know how to spot some signs of medical problems after a hospital stay. When your senior parent comes home from the hospital, their post hospital care provider should be watching for things like:

Infections

If your senior parent had surgery they may develop an infection near the surgical site. They also may develop skin infections or other infections that they picked up at the hospital. Hospitals are full of sick people so it’s not that uncommon for a senior that was in the hospital for a week or more to develop an infection or other health problems. Signs of an infection that you and a caregiver should be watching for include redness, itching, or pain at the site of the injection. Infections also may cause fever and swollen lymph nodes.

Lots of Pain

Some pain and stiffness after a hospital stay is normal. So is pain after a surgery or a fall. But if your senior parent is in excruciating pain all the time the care provider should call for emergency help and get your senior parent help right away. Complications from surgery can include lots of different medical problems that are a result of mistakes, poor planning, or poor care. If your senior parent is in a lot of pain even after a few days at home it’s very important to get them checked out by the doctor.

Blood Clots

After a stroke seniors have an increased risk of blood clots. Blood clots may have no symptoms, but they can cause aneurysms and strokes. If your senior parent is home now but they were in the hospital because they had a stroke you should be concerned. With post-hospital care your senior loved one doesn’t have to be alone.

UTIs

UTIs are also very common after seniors have been in the hospital. Many seniors don’t like using bedpans, but limited mobility may have forced them to avoid using the bathroom. That can cause a lot of strain on the urinary system. Post-hospital care also means that your senior parent won’t have to endure these symptoms alone. If the UTI gets bad or there’s a lot of pain a home caregiver can make sure that your senior parent gets the treatment they need.

If you or an aging loved one are considering post-hospital care in Fort Lee, NJ, please contact the caring staff at Applause Home Care today. Call (201) 326-8051

Applause Home Care provides independent, non-franchised quality Home Care for elders and families in and around Fort Lee, Hackensack, Ridgewood, Wyckoff, Paramus, Glen Rock, Pompton Plains, Franklin Lakes, Westwood, Montvale, and Fair Lawn, New Jersey.

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Jim Prussak

CEO at Applause Home Care

During the latter part of his successful 25-year career in control functions within the financial services industry, he volunteered in to assist elders in the community. The satisfaction and CARE that Jim RECEIVED from helping others in the “encore” of their lives helped him to learn about CARE PARTNERING not just “care giving”. These experiences also made Jim reconsider what he wanted to do with the rest of his career and life. Jim holds a BS Degree from New York University in Accounting and Finance and an MBA from Fordham University. He is also a Certified Homemaker-Home Health Aide by the NJ Board of Nursing and a Certified Public Accountant in New York.

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