Coming home from the hospital is a big time for any senior, but it might be a little scary for seniors who have emphysema. Emphysema is a progressive illness, and after a hospital stay seniors may face medication changes, including oxygen, changes to their daily lives, and more. Hospital to home transition care can help emphysema patients feel supported as they cope with the different challenges they face after their hospital stays.
Medication Changes and Difficulties
In the hospital, seniors with emphysema have a lot of help managing their medications since nurses bring their medications to them and remind seniors to take them properly. They may also be taking new prescriptions, like corticosteroids, to help their breathing.
Learning to incorporate these new medications into their existing routines at home takes time. Hospital to home transition care providers can help seniors understand their new medications and get help at home if they need it.
Oxygen Therapy at Home
As emphysema progresses, may seniors need to use oxygen therapy. Learning how to use and maintain the equipment is important, especially making sure that the flow settings are correct.
Hospital to home transition care can help seniors find additional support, like skilled nursing care, to assist with oxygen therapy at first until they feel comfortable using it themselves.
Lifestyle Adjustments
Seniors with emphysema may need to make some lifestyle adjustments, especially after a stay in the hospital. It may be more important than ever for seniors to avoid respiratory irritants, for example. This could include irritants like smoke, chemicals, allergens, and dust.
Home care providers can help with this by handling tasks related to these irritants. Their assistance can also allow emphysema patients to get the rest they need.
Physical Weakness and Fatigue
Patients with emphysema don’t get enough oxygen, which can leave them feeling physically weak and fatigued. Hospital to home transition care experts can help educate patients, sharing with them why they’re feeling this way and what they can do.
Transition care experts can also help to coordinate visits from other specialists, like physical therapists, who might be helping emphysema patients with pulmonary rehabilitation after their hospital stays.
Increased Risk of Infections
Lung infections and other types of infections can be especially tough for seniors with emphysema to weather. Hospital to home transition care providers can help families understand how good hygiene can help them to reduce infection risks. This is so important for helping seniors avoid having to go back to the hospital because of pneumonia or other lung infections.
Emotional and Mental Health Trouble
Chronic, progressive conditions like emphysema are scary to face. Hospital stays because of an illness like emphysema are particularly frightening. Many patients experience anxiety, depression, and even grief because of the changes they experience.
Hospital to home transition care providers understand the emotional challenges that arise and they can help seniors to find the mental health support they need to work through some of these issues.
Returning home from the hospital is a happy time for seniors with emphysema, but it also comes with challenges. Hospital to home transition care can be there to assist with the difficulties and help families find solutions.
If you or an aging loved one are considering Hospital to Home Transition in Camden, SC, please contact the caring staff at Avodah Home Care. Call (877) 4-AVODAH
Avodah Home Care is a Trusted Home Care Agency serving Abbeville, Aiken, Anderson, Barnwell, Calhoun County, Chesterfield County, Darlington, Dillon, Edgefield, Batesburg-Leesville, Florence, Greenville, Greenwood, Columbia, Lexington, Camden, Blythewood, Winnsboro, Orangeburg, Sumter, Gaston, Hopkins, Bishopville and surrounding areas.
Our team includes registered nurses, licensed practical nurses, certified nursing assistants, home health aides, and other healthcare professionals, all of whom have years of experience in the home care industry. We work together to provide comprehensive care that encompasses both medical and non-medical services, helping our clients maintain their independence and live with dignity in their own homes.
With our decades of experience, we have developed a deep understanding of the home care industry and the best practices for providing high-quality care. We are dedicated to staying up-to-date on the latest advances in care delivery, and we are committed to providing our clients with the most effective, evidence-based care.
At our core, our team is driven by a deep commitment to our clients and their families. We know that home care can be a difficult and challenging journey, and we are here to provide the support, guidance, and care that our clients need to thrive. Our team members are not only experienced professionals, but also compassionate and caring individuals who are dedicated to making a difference in the lives of our clients.
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