At any time of year, leaving hospital and returning home can cause anxiety for all concerned – the patient and his or her family and loved ones.
Unfortunately, it is a fact of life that hospitals are often under immense pressure to meet targets relating to bed space management with delays in hospital discharge often being the major contributing factor. In the case of elderly patients, discharges are often delayed due to the time it takes to assess and ensure that suitable care arrangements are in place, and at the same time meeting the requirements and expectations of the patient and family.
Often the main goal for an elderly person who has been in hospital is getting back home to their own familiar surroundings. The discharge process can seem prolonged and very frustrating. A solution for all concerned could be the engagement of a carefully selected live-in carer, who can deliver peace of mind for temporary recuperation or on a more permanently basis.
The Royal Voluntary Service (formerly the WRVS) is a volunteer organisation which aims to help older people enrich their lives, giving them practical help to get the best from life. The RVS recently published a very simple ‘returning home’ checklist as follows:
Get a relative or carer to help you leave hospital and settle in at home and
- make sure you understand what medicines you need to take and when
- ensure you know how to use any equipment you will need to take home with you
- feel free to ask a doctor or nurse to write down anything that you will need to remember
- make sure you know who to contact if you need more help.
These are all things that a live-in carer could take responsibility for particularly during the all important first couple of weeks at home when an elderly person may need physical help as well as companionship and support to regain confidence.
Others may need a greater degree of personal care in order to return to their own homes and again, a live-in carer could be the answer. All live-in carers must have the correct training and skill set to care for someone in their own home. Live-in carers can also have the additional skills and training to help someone needing more personal care e.g. full assistance with mobility (using a hoist); assistance with bathing, washing and dressing (including help getting into and out of the bath or shower); continence care and help with toileting (including the emptying of commodes or catheters). Having specific training and experience in how to care for a person who has a terminal illness, has suffered a stroke or is suffering from advanced Parkinson’s or Alzheimer’s disease are also areas of care that a live-in carer could undertake.
Otus Live-in Care is a privately owned company offering a bespoke service introducing personal live-in carers and companions to clients in their own homes. We are dedicated to help provide support for those who want to remain living in their own home independently, but with the security that they have someone living with them to deliver support and provide companionship. To find out more about how a live-in carer could help you maintain a healthy lifestyle whilst retaining your independence and remaining in your own home, visit our website www.otusliveincare.com, call us on 01403 710119 or email [email protected]