It’s not easy standing around and waiting, especially in a hospital. Your mother was rushed here and you got the call shortly afterward. You’ve been trying to figure out what happened, hoping for the best, and waiting (almost impatiently) for news. Any news.
It was a medical emergency and whether it was a heart attack, aneurysm, stroke, slip and fall, or something else, it’s going to be stressful. It’s not just stressful for you and the rest of the family and friends, but also for her.
Keep in mind that when she is finally discharged (which is going to be wonderful news for everyone), she will require some type of care and support, at least for a few weeks. She may be weaker, have more difficulty getting around her own, and though you may not have any issue helping her go to the bathroom, take a shower, and so forth, it might be an uncomfortable situation for her.
Hiring a home care aide and/or visiting nurse is one of the best options that not only improves chances of recovery, but also reduces the risk of a readmission. There are three reasons your mother should consider home care when she is discharged. Relying on you and other family and friends is a great asset, but nothing is better than experience.
Reason #1: She will likely be weaker.
No matter how long she spends in the hospital, your mother, in her 70’s or 80’s or 90’s, is going to be weaker than when she was admitted. She will have difficulty getting up and down stairs, getting up from a chair, getting out of bed, getting dressed, and so forth.
A home care aide can assist with all of this, including preparing meals, light housekeeping, and even helping her get to follow-up doctors’ appointments.
Reason #2: Often family takes an overly cautious approach to activity.
If your mother’s doctor has recommended exercise and certain activities, but you see them as potentially dangerous, you might discourage them, not fully understanding why they would be beneficial.
An experienced home care aide will have worked with other clients going through these similar circumstances and understand the inherent benefit of these activities.
Reason #3: You might not have enough time to help.
Whether it’s you, your spouse, another sibling, neighbor, friend, or anyone else for that matter, if you don’t have adequate time to help out, your mother’s recovery could be slowed down.
A home care agency can be hired for just a couple of hours at a time, even for as little as one or two days a week. You can still be integral in the recovery process, but to help avoid the risk of readmission, rely on experience during those initial weeks and months.