Your dad has been hospitalized with aspiration pneumonia. His doctors don’t want to release him without knowing there is a solid care plan in place once he gets home. They’re asking you to arrange post-hospital care services. What is this level of care?
Supportive Care With Health Assessments
His doctors only want him released if someone is checking his pulse, oxygen saturation levels, blood pressure, and respiratory rates throughout the day. He needs to be carefully watched to make sure he’s breathing well enough and not getting too little oxygen.
Nurses can offer health assessments as part of their post-hospital care plan. They’ll take the readings using the appropriate medical equipment and report to his doctor. If any adjustments to his care plan are needed, the changes can be addressed in his home rather than with a return trip to the hospital.
Another aspect of post-hospital care assessments is that nurses can monitor your dad for common mental health concerns like depression or anxiety. If he’s very down over his worsening health, it can lead to depression, which needs to be addressed before it worsens.
Administration of Medications with Post-Hospital Care Aides
As he recovers from pneumonia, your dad’s doctor has prescribed medications he needs to keep taking for the next week. He cannot miss a dose. He struggles with this, but a nurse can administer the medications he needs and ensure he takes them on time.
If he’s still running a fever, his nurse will monitor his temperature and give him ibuprofen to manage it. His nurse tracks how long since his last dose to avoid giving him too much.
Insertion of IV Lines and Care of His Catheter
If your dad needs IV fluids to avoid dehydration, and he doesn’t want to return to a hospital for that. His post-hospital care nurse can help with IV lines and administer the medications he needs during his recovery at home.
If your dad needs a catheter because he is confined to his bed for now, a nurse can keep the catheter cleaned and working properly. Catheter care is a big part of his home health care needs during recovery from aspiration pneumonia.
Tube Feeding Administration
If your dad isn’t yet ready to eat on his own, he’ll need a feeding tube, usually through the nasal passage to the esophagus. Nurses can handle feeding tube administration. When his tube feeding is complete, the nurse will rinse out the tube to ensure there are no blockages the next time he needs the liquid meal.
Before your dad comes home from the hospital, make sure the supportive care he needs is in place. Post-hospital care is easily arranged and an essential step in helping your dad continue on his path to a full recovery. Learn more by talking to our specialist in post-hospital care.
If you or an aging loved one are considering Post-Hospital Care Services in Lamont CA please contact the caring staff at Purpose Driven Home Health & Home Care. Call (661) 412-9730.
Purpose Driven Home Health & Home Care provides exceptional home care for seniors and families in Bakersfield, Wasco, Shafter, Delano, Lamont, Arvin, Taft, Tehachapi, Frazier Park, McFarland, and surrounding areas.
Purpose Driven Home Health & Home Care provides exceptional home care for seniors and families in Bakersfield, Wasco, Shafter, Delano, Lamont, Arvin, Taft, Tehachapi, Frazier Park, McFarland, and surrounding areas.
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