Preparation is everything! Going to the emergency room for any reason is stressful. A study was taken to measure using qualitative metrics to determine what factors make an emergency room visit so difficult for seniors. This study was conducted by interviewing people after their short term stay at the hospital. The study included surveying 11 seniors ranging in age 67-83. The study results revealed that not having the diagnosis clarified, not being prepared, and not being involved in the discharging process were most important for decreased ability for seniors to perform their daily activities later in their residences.(Nielsen et al., 2019)
It is important to have everything ready for yourself with the help of a caregiver or a family member prior to returning home. Upon returning home create a warm and clean atmosphere for yourself. Plan ahead by researching or asking about caregiving agencies. This will make you feel allot better. Especially if your diagnosis endows you with lifestyle changes that prevent you from doing normal household chores.
There can be more fatigue during after time spent in the hospital due to travel and the people. Give yourself more time for daily tasks. Remember to have all you bills, chores, shopping, and other tasks scheduled to get done with the help of a family member or caregiver.
Ensure that you know the exact diagnosis details, have take home instructions, and or are with a loved one or caregiver. Remain involved by paying extra attention to what is happening and what the diagnosis and instructions are. Remember to remain prepared and ask questions about lifestyle changes. Prepare by creating a setting of comfort and remember to call a loved one. If you need someone there when you return from the hospital schedule for a caregiver's help. They can help with all your ADLs or activities of daily living like basic hygiene tasks, bathing, clothing, meal prep, feeding, transferring, incontinence care, transportation, and running errands. Click here to view the care plan and start coordinating your care today.
References:
Nielsen, L. M., Gregersen Østergaard, L., Maribo, T., Kirkegaard, H., & Petersen, K. S. (2019). Returning to everyday life after discharge from a short-stay unit at the Emergency Department—a qualitative study of elderly patients’ experiences. International Journal of Qualitative Studies on Health and Well-Being, 14(1). https://doi.org/10.1080/17482631.2018.1563428