Hospitalisation, for any reason, can be daunting not only for patients but also for those who care for them. While patients receive the utmost care inside the hospital, often the care has to be continued at home, after their discharge. Such kind of at-home post-hospital care may be required for days, weeks or even months.

In this article, we will give you a complete understanding of post-hospital care and also share some practical tips for caregivers.

What is post-hospitalisation care?

Post-hospitalisation care is the care given to the patients in the time following their discharge from the hospital. This is a very critical time when the patient is recovering from the illness. Hence extreme care is required to ensure no relapse of the disease as well as a healthy recovery of the patient.

One of the leading causes of hospital readmissions is the lack of support after discharge from the hospital.  Patients are at an increased risk of getting sick or contracting an infection right after hospitalisation.

During this time, the patient may not be able to do their own work and require assistance for basic day-to-day functions such as relieving themselves, taking a bath, or eating. Most hospitalisation care includes helping the patient with all these and much more. Basically, it is a way of assisting the patient until they can perform their daily functions on their own.

With the improvement of medical science, life expectancies have increased and so has the number of people living with chronic illnesses and disabilities.  It is not possible to keep a person hospitalised for an indefinite period. Hence in many cases, patients are required to be cared for by someone at home.

Providing care for a loved one is an act of love, kindness and loyalty.  The mean aim of post-hospitalisation care is to help someone improve their quality of life and recover from the trauma of a hospitalisation physically as well as mentally.

However, this may not be an easy time for the caregiver. In many cases, the caregiver may not be trained to undertake such a major task. They may also not be mentally prepared for such a situation and feel overwhelmed at times.

The good news is someone does not need to be a nursing expert to be a caregiver.  They may also not be required to do it alone.  With the right help and support anyone can provide the attention required without having to sacrifice themselves in the process.

Caregiving can be a rewarding experience for both your loved one and you.

Common situations during which a patient may need post-hospitalisation care at home

A patient may need post-hospitalisation care under various circumstances, some of the most common ones being:

Healing from a surgery

Often people need nursing care at home after surgery. This can include methods such as Physiotherapy, administration of treatment or medicines, wound care and others. This can be done by experienced professional nurses as well as members of the family depending on the care requirement.

Chronic illness

Patients may suffer from chronic illnesses such as cancer. This may require extensive home care which may extend up to a few years.

Treatment of a wound

In case of a serious injury or infection, patients may require wound treatment even after being released from the hospital. The wound may require cleaning, dressing, application of medicines and other kinds of care.  This may have to be done at home until the wound is healed.

Recovery from illness

Apart from the above, patients can be recovering from a general illness due to which they may feel weak. This may leave them unable to perform their daily tasks. Therefore, they may need to be cared for at home. In some cases, they may also require occupational therapy or physical therapy. Utmost care is needed for such cases.

For patients confined to the bed

A patient may be bedridden for a long time due to a broken bone, heart disease or any other sickness. In some cases, it may take months to recover and the patient may need post-hospitalisation care during this period.

Useful tips for post-hospitalisation care of a patient

Now let us take a look at how to make this process easier for the you as a caregiver as well as the person you are caring for:

Prepare the house and the patient’s room in advance

Patients usually struggle with mobility and balance after being discharged. This may increase the risk of falls. Hence arranging the house and the room where the patient will be living before they get home is of utmost importance.

Here or some of the things you can do:

Get extra help for the first 72 hours

The first 72 hours post-discharge is crucial.  This is the time when the patient is at an increased risk of contracting an infection. It is also a time when you are getting used to caregiving.  Hence if you are caring for your loved one alone, it may be a good idea to seek some extra help. Reach out to other family members who can support you or seek the help of a professional home caregiver.

Professional caregivers can reduce the stress on family members as well as patients to a great extent. They can also help in successful recovery and avoiding unnecessary readmission.

Follow the doctor’s instructions

Understanding the doctor’s instructions is essential, not only for you but also for the patient. And following the instructions is crucial too!

Ensure that a family member, a friend or a professional caregiver accompanies the patient for post-discharge appointments and understands the doctor’s instructions during such visits. Such patients, especially if the patient is a senior citizen, may forget what the doctor said. Hence the presence of a third party helps.

In case the doctor has suggested rehabilitation, it has to be followed properly. Sometimes the patient may feel momentarily better and may skip medication thinking that they don’t need it anymore. This can be very harmful. At times patients may feel mentally low, thinking of themselves as a burden to the family. As a caregiver, keep an eye on the patient’s behaviour and guide them into doing things that are essential for their recovery.

Assist in managing the patient’s medication

The hospital may prescribe a list of medications for the patient after discharge. There may be specific timing for taking the medication which can be confusing for a patient who is already dealing with the pain of the disease and the stress of hospitalisation. As a caregiver, it is your responsibility to keep track of them.

Make a list of the medication, their timing and any specific instructions attached to taking them (such as pre-meal or post-meal). You can stick this list to a place visible not only to you but also to other family members, such as on the fridge. You can also keep reminders on your phone to ensure you do not miss out on any of them.

Take care of the patient’s diet

Diet is important even for healthy individuals. So naturally it takes the centre stage for post-hospitalisation recovery. A proper diet strengthens patients’ immune systems and assists in recovery. In most cases, the hospital provides a diet chart during discharge. It is advisable to follow it without any deviation.

In case the hospital has not provided a diet chart, here are a few healthy eating guidelines that you can follow:

If the patient is struggling with eating, avoid food that is difficult to chew at least for some time. Smoothies can be a good alternative during this period.

Ensure that the patient gets sufficient sleep

Adequate rest is fundamental, as it can aid the recovery process. Even if the patient feels better and can follow his/her daily routine, ensure that they don’t do any heavy work at least till the doctor feels them to be fit to do so.

Relaxation techniques can help if the patient suffers from insomnia. Relaxation techniques such as meditation and deep breathing can also reduce stress and help to manage pain better. In case such relaxation techniques do not work, speak to the doctor to find other solutions.

Getting the patient back to routine

While post-hospitalization care is important, it is also essential to get the patient back to their routine life as a part of recovery. But this needs to be done slowly. Avoid quick and abrupt changes and ease them into their daily life.

For example, mealtimes are an important time for a family. Try to ensure that the patient is not left out. If the patient feels strong enough, include them in one of the daily meals with the family. This will serve as a fresh breather for the patient and can cause wonders for his/her mental health.

Sources

• https://www.risingcare.org/blog/what-is-post-hospitalization-care
• https://www.careuk.com/help-advice/6-top-tips-for-caring-for-a-loved-one-at-home
• https://www.alegrecare.com/single-post/2016/12/05/10-steps-to-post-hospitalization-recovery
• https://medlineplus.gov/ency/patientinstructions