Seniors have a high risk of having an emergency hospitalization at some point. Seniors are prone to medical emergencies if they live alone. Even seniors with 24-hour home care services may end up needing emergency care. The most common reasons why seniors end up hospitalized include:
- Falls.
- Strokes.
- Heart attacks.
- Respiratory distress.
- Infections.
- Injuries.
It’s a good idea for seniors aging in place to have 24-hour home care. When seniors have 24-hour home care they can get emergency assistance immediately if they need it. But when family members get the call that their senior parent has suffered an emergency what should they do? Family caregivers should be ready to rush to the hospital at any time to be with a senior parent.
If your senior parent has an emergency and you need to go to the hospital the things you need to do immediately are:
Find Out What Hospital They’re Going To Through Their 24-Hour Home Care
Ask the 24-hour care provider or stay in touch with the ambulance service. They may need to change where they are taking your senior parent. Hospitals are sometimes too full to take new emergency patients. Make sure that you verify which hospital your senior parent is going to.
Get Their Go Bag
Your senior parent should have a bag that is always packed in case of emergency. The bag should contain pajamas, socks, clothes for when they leave the hospital, headphones, a tablet or music player, and any other items they would need for a hospital stay. The bag should also contain a binder with their insurance information, legal papers, a list of the medication they take, and other important information. Stop by their home to grab the bag on the way to the hospital.
Call Their Primary Doctor
Call your senior parent’s primary doctor to let them know what is happening. The doctor may want to talk to the emergency doctors. Or they may want to meet you at the hospital if the situation is serious. But you should let them know what is happening. The emergency doctor will need to know what your senior parent’s health conditions are to effectively treat them. So they will likely need to talk with your senior parent’s primary doctor.
Let Family Members Know and Settle In For A Slog
Once you get to the hospital and get your senior parent settled make sure to let family and friends know. They may not be able to visit because many emergency departments are limiting visitors. But you can post or text updates to let the family know how things are going. If your senior parent has a caregiver keep the caregiver in the loop too.
You may be sitting in the ER for a long time. Sometimes even days. Make sure to take care of your own needs while you’re there. Drink lots of water. Go outside periodically to get fresh air. Eat regularly. Depending on the space available the ER staff may be able to find out a comfy chair to sleep in while your senior parent sleeps.
If you or an aging loved one is considering 24-Hour Home Care Services in Annapolis MD please contact the caring staff at Vital Sign Home Care today. (410) 814-0258
A Trusted Skilled Medical and Non-Medical senior home care provider in Annapolis, Arnold, Severn, Guilford, Towson, Brooklandville, Catonsville, Cockeysville, Bel Air, Ellicott City, Columbia MD, and surrounding areas.
Venus had a stroke in 2018, she had no movement on the right side of her body and was unable to speak. Venus has made great progress since then and shows up everyday doing her best. She takes pride in overcoming obstacles and never giving up, which has allowed her to obtain a level of success in healthcare.
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