Imagine this happening: your frail, senior mother, who lives alone, fell last weekend, broke her thighbone and forearm, and is currently being released from St. Joseph Hospital in Nashua. Sorting through and reading her discharge paperwork, you notice the doctor’s orders for a number of different medications, ongoing physical therapy, a medical checkup appointment that needs to be scheduled, and a number of symptoms to be on the lookout for that could result in a return to the emergency room.
As the owner of your own company and with a busy family of five to care for, can you prevent her from forgetting to take a medication, ensure that she follows her care plan and avoids another fall? Nowadays, family members are accepting the role of caregiver more often for their senior loved ones who prefer independent living in the Granite State vs. nursing home care. Also, consider that after a hospitalization, the amount of care provided often needs to be increased to ensure safety and prevent a return hospital stay. The following tips can help family caregivers keep their loved ones safe and assist in the recovery process at home:
- Find more information. Don’t hesitate to question the medical team on care items you do not understand well. This will help you know how to be a better caregiver for your loved one. Ask about who to call for help at any time of the day or night, and ask about symptom warning signs to watch for.
- Don’t neglect your own care. Caregiving can be stressful, and can affect a caregiver’s own health. Make sure to eat a balanced diet, get plenty of rest, and take time for activities you enjoy.
- Connect with others. Family members tend to feel they need to do it all themselves, but it’s really important to have a list of handy resources to help: friends, extended family, neighbors, even a support group on which to lean.
Consider the Granite State’s best independent living option, Live Free Home Health Care. We can keep seniors safe and make sure they’re recovering well following hospitalizations. We’re just a phone call away and can be an essential part of your independent living care team to supplement family help. Call us at 603-217-0149.