Returning home after a hospital stay can be a daunting experience for many seniors. The challenge of ensuring a safe and comfortable transition can be overwhelming, particularly for those who live alone or lack family support. However, with the right preparation and support, this transition can be made seamless and worry-free. Here, we’ll share essential tips for a smooth transition from hospital to home.
Tips for a Seamless Transition
Plan Ahead: Before discharge, discuss your care plan with your healthcare provider. Ensure you understand your medication, follow-up appointments, and any recommended home care.
Modify Your Home: Consider any modifications that may be required to navigate your home safely. This might include installing grab bars in the bathroom, securing rugs to prevent slips, or arranging for a hospital bed if needed.
Arrange for Support: Early planning for who will assist you with daily tasks can alleviate much of the stress associated with returning home. Consider the role family, friends, or a professional caregiver might play.
Organize Transportation: Ensure you have a safe way to get home from the hospital, as well as transport to follow-up medical appointments.
Prepare Meals: Consider preparing meals in advance or arrange for meal delivery. Proper nutrition is crucial for recovery.
Manage Medications: Organize your medications and ensure you clearly understand what each is for, the dosage, and the timing.
How CANES Can Help
Recognizing the challenges faced by seniors post-discharge, CANES Community Care has developed the 'Home at Last' program. This essential service is designed to assist any senior requiring help to transition home from either William Osler Etobicoke General, Brampton Civic or Peel Memorial, or Headwaters Hospital. This free service ensures that seniors, particularly those who are frail, live alone, or do not have sufficient family support, can return home safely and comfortably.
Service Highlights:
Personal Support: Trained Personal Support Workers (PSWs) meet the patient in their hospital room at the planned discharge time or in the emergency department. They accompany the senior home, ensuring a safe and comfortable return.
Pharmacy Stops: Before heading home, the PSW can accompany the senior to their local community pharmacy, assisting with any needed supplies.
Settling In: Once at home, the PSW helps the senior settle in, performing tasks such as ensuring they're comfortable, preparing a light meal, or staying until family arrives or the client feels secure.
Accessing the Service:
Patients or their family members can directly request the Home at Last service, or healthcare professionals can make a referral. This service is provided at no cost, covered by the Ministry of Health and Long-Term Care, reflecting CANES Community Care is commitment to supporting seniors during this vulnerable time.
The transition from hospital to home can be a critical period for seniors, requiring careful planning and support. By leveraging helpful tips and availing services like 'Home at Last', seniors can make this transition smoothly, focusing on their recovery and wellbeing in the comfort of their home. Thanks to CANES Community Care, seniors in the community have a reliable partner to ease this transition, ensuring no senior has to face it alone.
Click for more information about the 'Home at Last' program or to request the service.
Together, we can make the journey back home a seamless experience for our seniors.
