Many seniors and their families face it every day.

They find themselves in the hospital with an emergency. They spend hours, days, adjusting to surgeries, new routines, new realities. And then just as quickly, the time comes for the patient to be discharged.

Yet returning home won’t be easy. Studies show that many seniors simply aren’t ready nor capable of moving back home with new conditions in place. They are being discharged without adequate home support, and in many cases find themselves on a return trip to the hospital because of problems caused by not being able to properly care for themselves.

Doctors, support staff and hospital admin are picking up the slack, finding new ways to determine the right path for each patient at the time of discharge.

But it’s just as important for family caregivers to help make sure they are adequately covered as well. Many things need to be in place.

Care coordination – Following doctor’s instructions can be challenging. They are often given to you at rapid speed, at a time when you are at anything but your best. Patients are often overwhelmed and confused by the amount of information they receive, right at a time when it’s most critical to make follow-up appointments, have rehabilitation sessions and follow medicinal orders. This is when its most important to have an extra set of ears, eyes and hands to make sure everything runs smoothly and according to plans. [Read more…]