The Importance of Hospital Discharge Care
It is extremely important for Connect that our Customers and their families receive all the support needed, at every possible stage of care.
Admission to hospital, whether planned or not, is always a worrying and hard time, particularly for the older person. At times members of the family of a person that leaves the hospital are unable to provide their loved ones with the care immediately after the treatment is ended and it sometimes may delay the discharge. That can be an additional burden to the hospital, as beds are simply blocked by patients who really would prefer to come back home where they would most probably recover more quickly. It also causes unnecessary stress for the family who cannot be with their elderly relatives at the time of hospital discharge. That’s why we are offering person centred care as soon as it’s necessary.
As people get older, the chances that they will need to stay in hospital for an extended period of time increases. Once the immediate reason for admission to hospital has been taken care of, it is likely that the elderly patient will still need to be cared for in a number of ways.
Rather than simply discharging the patient from a NHS hospital and leaving them to fend for themselves, it is essential to make sure that there is already a care and support system in place and a number of important precautions need to be taken.
Elderly patients who have been staying in hospital for a considerable period of time due to physical or mental infirmity are likely to find that they need some sort of ongoing care and attention.
However, if the elderly person has spent a lot of time in the hospital, it is essential to make the transition from the hospital to home as smooth as possible to ensure that the release from the hospital is not traumatic.
How is hospital discharge arranged
We are able to provide support with hospital discharge at short notice on an emergency basis or following a scheduled hospital visit for planned operations such as hip/knee/shoulder replacement or major surgery. Our specialist home care management team will work closely with you, your family and other healthcare professionals involved to ensure you are able to enjoy a safe and prompt return to the comfort and familiarity of your own home.
We are able to carry out a free assessment of your needs in the hospital and / or upon your return home which will be used to agree with you how you wish to be supported at home. This often involves help with recuperation, convalescence and rehabilitation for which our team of professional home carers are able to work closely with physiotherapists, occupational therapists, District Nurses and other healthcare professionals.
In addition to rehabilitation support, our home carers can help you with all other aspects of living in your own home including domestic help, companionship, medication help, personal care or specialist care for more complex conditions such as dementia care, Parkinson’s care or stroke care.
If you wish to speak with us regarding help with hospital discharge either for emergency care or for your future needs please do not hesitate to contact us today.