Shorter Hospital Stays:
What Families Need to Know

Mom has major back surgery on Monday, and then is discharged and sent home on Thursday. Though it may seem severe, it happens all the time. Procedures that once kept patients in the hospital for several days, now often involve only a one or two-night hospital stay. Regardless of the forces driving this trend, the end result is undeniable. People are being sent home from hospitals “quicker and sicker” than was the practice several years ago.

Families often face this dilemma, feeling inadequately prepared for the realities of their loved one’s transition from hospital to home. To help in the planning process, here are a few post-hospital concerns that families need to be prepared to monitor:

Medication management. Studies suggest that nearly 40% of patients over 65 suffer from medication errors after leaving the hospital. A simple med box prefilled with the proper doses can make a significant difference, but it is not always enough to ensure that the patient consistently remembers to take the right medications at the right time.

Proper nutrition. Often the patient is not motivated to eat healthily throughout the day and may not have the energy to prepare adequate meals. Even if family and friends provide a nutritious supper, breakfast and lunch can easily get neglected.

Fall precautions. Falls are a common cause of re-hospitalizations. Practical steps should be taken to minimize fall risks in the home. In addition, a personal attendant may be needed to provide standby assistance for a few days.

Emotional support. Post-hospital days can be discouraging and even depressing. The patient will need social and emotional support to help her stay motivated and engaged in her recovery process.

Personal care. Simple tasks like dressing, grooming, bathing and toileting can be a daily challenge. The family will need to ensure that appropriate help is provided.

Wound care. If a wound is involved, the patient will need skilled and timely wound care. Even if Medicare provides occasional visits, they may not be often enough to care properly for a wound.

Physical activity monitoring. Some patients may be inclined to do too much too soon, while others may not be motivated to get up and move around at all. The family needs to know what physical activities are prescribed and help monitor the patient’s activity and rest.

Business management. Was a home project in process when the hospital stay interrupted the patient’s life? Are there bills that need paid or other obligations that need met? The patient may need help managing these details as she recovers her focus and equilibrium.

Basic household chores. During the recovery process, the trash will still need emptied, the dishes washed, the laundry cleaned, and so forth. Plans need to be made to meet these needs.

The hospital’s discharge planning department will likely be a valuable source of information on local Medicare companies and rehabilitation facilities. Often, however, the patient is not sick enough to justify admission to a rehab facility and not strong enough to thrive only on what Medicare visits can accomplish. Perhaps family members and trusted friends are available to rally around for several days, helping the patient navigate the many challenges of regaining her strength. That certainly is the ideal solution.

If family and friends are doing all they can practically do and the loved one still needs a bit more, either simply in time spent with her or in the level of skilled care that would be best for her, the solution is to acquire the services of a private duty caregiver through a licensed caregiver registry or agency. While this will require some out of pocket expense, it may be more reasonably priced than you expect and it may save the expense and discomfort of further medical complications and perhaps a repeated hospital stay.

Shortened hospital stays are the new reality. With prior planning and perhaps some outside help, families can adjust to this trend and provide the needed help to give Mom or any loved one the best opportunities possible to thrive following a hospitalization. If you know someone who may benefit from private duty care, we invite you to call Family Private Care today and request information.


Don White
Director of Business Development
Family Private Care, Inc.