Leaving hospital after surgery or medical treatment can be a worrisome time for elderly individuals who live alone. Not knowing whether you will be able to cope at home is one thing that people are concerned about following a hospital discharge. Whilst medical professionals might conclude that remaining under the care of hospital staff is no longer necessary, that does not mean to say the recovery process is over.
However, there is a care service that can help to bridge the gap between in-hospital care and recovering at home. Hospital discharge care, otherwise known as postoperative care, enables individuals to continue the recovery process all in the comfort of their own homes.
What is hospital discharge care?
Hospital discharge care, also referred to as postoperative care, is a type of care administered to individuals following a stay at hospital.
This service is useful for people who have been admitted to hospital for:
- Surgery
- Invasive procedures
- Infections
- Heart attacks or strokes
- Broken bones or fractures
- Other medical treatments
Recuperation after such interventions does not stop in the hospital bed; individuals often have to go through a period of recovery at home. Whilst some procedures involve shorter recovery periods, other treatments and surgeries can significantly affect an individual’s everyday life. If the latter is the case, extra support is needed to ensure that recovery goes smoothly and that aftercare instructions are followed.
How can hospital discharge care help?
With more and more pressures being placed on healthcare services in the UK, hospitals are faced with a quick turnaround of patients. Rather than fully recovering at hospital, the majority of the recuperation process often happens at home.
However, some elderly individuals living alone may find it difficult to recover without assistance. This is where hospital discharge or postoperative care can help. A carer can support individuals as they adjust to life at home following extensive medical treatment or surgery.
Complications can also arise following hospital treatments and surgery. Having postoperative care or hospital discharge care in place can help mitigate the risk of complications such as infections. A home carer can assist with caring for wounds, managing medication and also monitor any changes to an individual’s health status during the recovery period.
Alongside supporting the individual, hospital discharge care offers peace of mind to families who can relax safely in the knowledge that their loved one is being expertly cared for during their recovery. Often, a hospital discharges a patient at a moment’s notice, so it is important to consider having hospital discharge care as part of your care plan.
What does hospital discharge care involve?
Getting back into the swing of things at home following surgery and a stay in hospital is tricky. With the help of a home carer, this transition from hospital care to returning home needn’t be such a shock to the system. Hospital discharge or postoperative care offers welcome support with everyday activities individuals recently discharged from hospital may find challenging.
A hospital discharge carer can typically assist with:
- Personal care – toileting, bathing, dressing and grooming
- Meal preparation
- Transportation to and from follow up healthcare appointments
- Medication and treatment management
- Skin and wound care
- Aftercare instructions
- Liaising between medical professionals
- Light housekeeping
- Mobility assistance
- Getting in and out of bed and chairs
- Companionship and someone to talk to
How Country Cousins can help
Hospital discharge care is an invaluable service for individuals who are concerned about returning home after a stay in hospital. Whilst hospital staff may deem an individual ready to be discharged, the recovery process continues at home. Without sufficient support recovery can seem slow and everyday life during this time may be difficult to navigate. This is where Country Cousins’ postoperative care can step in to alleviate stress and provide welcome support to the individual and their family.
With more than 60 years of experience, we have extensive expertise in a wide range of home care services, with hospital discharge care being one of them. You can trust us to help you find the most suitable carer to support your loved one in line with their personal preferences and wishes. For more information on selecting hospital discharge care for you or your elderly loved one, check out our guide to postoperative care.
Talk to our team today
If you require live-in care for you or your loved one, get in touch with us at Country Cousins today. We are the UK’s longest-serving introductory care agency, having provided compassionate care to people in their own homes since 1959.
Give us a call today on 01293 224 706 should you have any questions about home care. Our experienced team is on hand to help from Monday to Friday, 8 am to 6 pm. Alternatively, contact us through our online enquiry form.
