If your elderly parent has a chronic illness, your first idea is to take them to the hospital for treatment. However, some age-related illnesses take a long time to heal, and they would be hospitalized for weeks and sometimes months. Extended hospital stay is terrifying for most seniors as some of them associate hospitalization with death. Living in a hospital setting also limits their social interaction and removes all sense of a normal life. In this context, hospital stays at home might be one way of improving health outcomes, especially for older persons battling terminal conditions.
Why Hospitalization of the Seniors is Tricky
Before having your aged loved one admitted to the hospital, think about how hospitalization might affect them. Studies show that hospital admission of senior citizens not only affects their well-being and quality of life, but it also slows down long-term recovery.
Other effects of hospitalization on seniors include:
Hospital at Home as the Solution
Hospital at home is meaningfully transforming healthcare for the aged. In recent years, the lack of optimal geriatric care in most hospitals has been a significant concern. Many people feel that hospitalization will only worsen the elderly's condition, increasing their hospital stay.
Thus, the hospital at home model was developed to limit the number of hospital visits for seniors. The main benefits of this model include:
The Bottom Line
Hospital care at home is a more attractive deal than regular hospitalization. If you choose hospital at home for your aged loved one, you are assured of intimate and uncompromised quality care. More significantly, it provides an opportunity to strengthen family ties.
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