Men More Likely to Need Urgent Care After Hospitalization, Study Suggests

Written by Leigh Ann Otte | 02 May 2012
Posted in Health and Wellness

After a trip to the hospital, men may be more likely than women to pay a return visit to the ER, according to HealthDay News. Many of the reasons may be preventable.

Reporting on research published in BMJ Open, HealthDay says:

The study found that the return rate for urgent care within 30 days of discharge was 29 percent for women and 47 percent for men. Men were twice as likely to go to the emergency room, according to a journal news release.

Many key factors predicted men's return to hospital. They were 72 percent more likely to return if they were unmarried or retired, 64 percent more likely if they had not seen their family doctor since their discharge and 53 percent more likely if they were depressed.

This study wasn't done specifically in elderly people, who have high rates of hospital readmission anyway. But it's a good reminder that after you leave the hospital, the work isn't done.

If you or your elderly parents would like an expert to guide you through the recovery process, please ask us about our affordable Smooth-Transition Care program, in which you get your own specially trained transition coach to help you recover to your fullest potential.

Engaging in creative endeavors

Written by Francesca Robinson | 13 April 2012
Posted in Health and Wellness

“Creativity is inventing, experimenting, growing, taking risks, breaking rules, making mistakes, and having fun.” -Mary Lou Cook

We have all heard that it is important for seniors to remain physically active. However, creative activity can be just as important to the physical, emotional, and spiritual well-being of the senior as getting the appropriate amount of exercise each week.

Just because you are getting older doesn’t mean you have to knit or play bingo. In fact, seniors today are living longer and more active lives. Engaging in creative endeavors allows seniors to process through the emotions they are experiencing as their life changes. Creativity offers a form of communication for seniors, a way for them to communicate their past events, their current emotions, and their future hopes and dreams. No matter what your level of artistic ability, a creative activity can offer an enjoyable hobby that redefines senior leisure activities. Creative activities may include drawing, painting, photography, writing, gardening and organizing photos.

Personally, I enjoy to engage in a variety of creative hobbies. I love to take a painting class, have friends over for a crafting afternoon, bake sweets, and plant flowers. For me, staying active and creative means changing things up. In what ways do you engage your mind and body in creative activities?

At Preferred Care at Home we believe in Celebrating Life, Dignity and Independence. As you age, take the time to engage in activities that you enjoy.

Francesca’s journey into home care began 26 years ago when her parents and grandmother first started coming alongside the elderly to provide that extra care that was needed. A third-generation care provider, Francesca has inherited a rich legacy of respecting the elderly while providing the utmost quality of care to maintain dignity and independence in the home. Francesca writes about the home care industry from her experience with current senior issues as she interacts with her clients.

A Restful Way to Stay Hospital-Free After Pneumonia

Written by Leigh Ann Otte | 03 April 2012
Posted in Health and Wellness

When Lizzie Enfield was discharged from the hospital after a bout with pneumonia, she was supposed to take it easy for a while. Instead, like many of us would, she got right back to her old life. A few months later, she was back in the hospital with a kidney infection.

Enfield explains at the U.K. website MailOnline:

Pneumonia is caused by bacteria that cause inflammation and damage to the insides of the lungs, and a seven-day course of antibiotics is usually enough to kill the bacteria, explains Dr Angshu Bhowmik, a consultant in respiratory and general medicine at Homerton University Hospital, London.

‘However, antibiotics do not repair the inflammation and damage. It takes anything from a week to several months for the X-ray to come back to normal after a bout of pneumonia.

'During this time, people will not be back at “normal” health and this may indicate the time frame of convalescence.’

In other words, I should have spent several weeks taking it easy.

Though Enfield lives in England, her story resonates here in the U.S., where people are also discharged earlier than they used to be, and convalescence usually happens at home. It's a good reminder that doctors' orders really are for our own good.

If you or your elderly parents need help taking it easy during recovery from surgery, pneumonia or another illness, you can hire a professionally trained home-care aide to help with household duties. Please call Preferred Care at Home, (866) 690-7733, to discuss personalized options.