For any elderly individual, the transition from hospital back to their home can be a daunting experience. After a hospital stay, seniors may feel vulnerable and uncertain about managing their health and daily activities independently. A Hospital to Home service is normally provided by your local hospital and NHS service, however, with the situation today, it can take a few days to organise, as hospital transport is at a premium for critical patients.
At 1st Focus Homecare, we provide a full pick-up from the hospital and take you back home to help you settle into your own home again. We’ll collect you from the ward you have been staying at and transport you in comfort with one or two of our trained carers in attendance.
The Hospital to Home service facilitates a safe and efficient transfer of patients from a hospital setting back to their own homes. This service typically begins while the patient is still in the hospital and involves several key steps:
- Assessment: We liaise with the hospital to take note of any specific issues to watch for in the move from your hospital bed and ward back to home. This assessment helps us determine the level of care required as you prepare to return home.
- Care Coordination: One of our dedicated care coordinators works with you, your family, and hospital staff to create a personalised care plan. This plan outlines the specific support services you need to get back home, as well as the services you require when you get back home. 1st Focus Homecare will make sure you return home safely and are settled back into your home environment. We are also available to provide ongoing care after you return home if you do not already have an in-home care provider.
- Arranging Services: Once your discharge date and time are established, the coordinator arranges for the necessary services and resources. This will include arranging transport, support to help you into your house on arrival, and getting you settled back into your home.
- Transportation: Transportation arrangements are made to ensure a safe journey home, whether it involves a family member or friend there to help, in addition to one of our trained professional carers.
- Follow-Up Care: After the patient has returned home, follow-up care may be crucial. To find out more about this, please look up our list of services on our website.
By providing comprehensive support, the Hospital to Home service aims to alleviate the stress and uncertainty that often accompany a transition back to your home, ensuring that elderly patients feel confident and secure in their recovery.
Discharge planning is a major component of the Hospital-to-home service. This begins as soon as the hospital has agreed it is safe for a client to return home. The goal is to prepare a safe transition back to home with input from the family, the hospital and 1st Focus Homecare as a support mechanism.
- Understanding Medical Needs: Patients should have a clear understanding of their medical condition, treatment plan, and any follow-up appointments. This information is crucial for managing their health at home. We liaise with the hospital to make sure any medical needs are put in place prior to the return home.
- Medication Management: Patients must be informed about their medications, including dosages, potential side effects, and how to take them correctly. Part of our hospital-to-home service is to make sure you understand the medications that are provided to you by the hospital and any dosages that must be taken.
- Identifying Support Systems: Family members and caregivers should be involved in the discharge planning process to understand their roles and responsibilities in supporting the patient after they leave the hospital. It is difficult for family members to always be there. Work and other commitments get in the way. We work with your family as a team to make sure your transition from Hospital to Home is comfortable and as seamless as possible.
- Home Environment Assessment: It’s essential to evaluate the patient’s home environment to identify any potential hazards or barriers to recovery. This may involve making modifications to enhance safety, such as installing grab bars in the bathroom and kitchen, installing handrails in rooms and staircases, or even a stair lift if necessary. It is also important to make sure there are no fall hazards in the house. Falls are a common issue with elderly patients returning home, and you do not want to end up back in the hospital straight after coming home.
- Resource Availability: Patients should be informed about available community resources, such as hospital-at-home services, meal-on-wheels style delivery programs, and in-home care options, to support their recovery at home.
lanning care after leaving the hospital is crucial to ensure a speedy and efficient recovery for elderly patients. Here are some considerations to think about:
- Personalised Care Plans: A tailored care plan should be developed based on the patient’s specific needs, medical conditions, and personal preferences. This plan may include scheduled home health visits, physical therapy, and regular check-ins with local NHS healthcare providers.
- Home Health Services: Engaging home health services can provide essential support, such as skilled nursing care, and assistance with daily living activities. These services can help patients regain their independence while ensuring their health needs are met.
- Family Involvement: Engaging family members in the care process is vital for emotional support and practical assistance. Family members can help with daily tasks, medication management, and emotional encouragement, contributing to a more positive recovery experience.
We appreciate that families find this time stressful. Looking after elderly parents can be tiring, both mentally and physically. You have jobs and families of your own to care for. Using an in-home care provider, even if it is for an interim 2-4 week period, can provide families with a better transition back to a care-at-home environment.
4 Monitoring Progress: Regular follow-up appointments with hospitals, GPs and healthcare providers are essential for monitoring the patient’s progress and addressing any concerns that may arise.
5 Emergency Preparedness: Patients and their families should have a plan in place for handling potential emergencies. This includes knowing when to seek medical help, having a list of emergency contacts, and ensuring that necessary medical information is readily accessible. Ask our team at 1st Focus for advice on this.
In conclusion, the Hospital to Home service plays a crucial role in supporting elderly residents of Edinburgh as they transition from hospital care back to their homes. By understanding how the service works, the importance of discharge planning, and how to effectively plan care after leaving the hospital, seniors and their families can navigate this critical phase with confidence. With the right support in place, elderly individuals can focus on their recovery and enjoy the comfort of their own homes once again.
1st Focus Homecare is always available to answer questions about Hospital-to-home services. Feel free to give us a call at 0131-510-7878.
FAQs
What is Hospital to Home?
Hospital to Home is a service where a patient is supported in moving from a hospital bed back to their home environment. We make sure you are returned home and settled safely back in your home environment.
How long will it take to organise the service once I am discharged?
Hospital at Home should be organised as soon as you enter the hospital. It is important that you, or most probably your family, start planning for your home return immediately so that you have no delay once the hospital deems you fit enough to be discharged.
What does the Hospital to Home service include?
The duties of a caregiver providing a pick up from your hospital ward. Safe transportation back to your home, and helping you move back safely to your home environment. This whole process might take from a few hours to a whole day depending on your specific needs.
What happens once I get home?
Once you are at home and we have helped you to get settled back in, making sure you are comfortable, have eaten and have taken any prescribed medications, we then conclude the hospital-to-home service.
What sort of additional support can I get once I am released from the hospital?
Your local authority can be contacted to enquire about Hospital at Home services and care at home services funding. This includes regular preventative medical visits from regional nurses and healthcare teams to help you stay out of the hospital (nobody likes being in the hospital for extended stays.)
Your family members will act as a support mechanism, and if you already have government-funded or private home care, those entities will also provide support.
