Helping an Elderly Relative Cope with Coming Home After a Hospital Stay

As we age, the chance of having to be admitted to the hospital for any number of reason increases. Our elderly family members and friends may find the adjustment from hospital to home a little difficult. This may be because of new physical limitations, medications, or just because they have been confined for a time. I have compiled a list of suggestions to make this transition easier.

1. The most important way that you can help an elderly family member adjust after a hospital stay is to avoid changing anything in their home or room. It is totally acceptable to clean, change the sheets, or do laundry while they are in the hospital, but packing things up, or rearranging their possessions may give the elderly patient the impression that you did not expect them to come home at all.

2. Make sure that all assistive devices are in place before the elderly patient is discharged. this could involve special beds, handrails or shower seat in the bathroom, medical equipment like oxygen concentrators, or ambulation assistance like a walker or cane. Also make sure that all home medical care and therapies are scheduled as some of these treatments need to begin very soon after discharge from the hospital.

3. The elderly patient has received a lot of attention during their hospital stay, both from the hospital staff and from concerned visitors. The transition to home may be quiet and a bit lonely in comparison. It is important to maintain contact with the elderly patient to ensure that he or she does not feel abandoned.

4. Make sure that all prescriptions are current and new prescriptions are filled when the elderly patient is discharged from the hospital. A pill organizer may help to avoid confusion when adding or changing the medications in a treatment regime.

5. Before the elderly patient is discharged from the hospital, take stock of the refrigerator and pantry. Throw out things that are outdated and replace them. While you are at the grocery store replacing the discarded items, take into consideration the dietary additions or restrictions that the physician has suggested.

6. Make arrangements for the flowers, balloons, and cards that the elderly patient has received during their hospital stay to be placed in their home or room before their arrival. It is also a good idea to add a new "Welcome Home" bouquet or two.

7. During the adjustment period, it is a good idea for you and your family to take turns being available for the elderly patient that has just been discharged from the hospital. This could mean visits, or it could mean sitting during the day, or even spending the night. This will not only ensure that the patient has any assistance that he or she may require, it will also help to avoid any feelings of loneliness or abandonment.

If you follow these suggestions, as well as listen to the needs and concerns of the elderly patient, the transition from hospital to home should be a smooth one.