Hospital readmissions can contribute to new medical and psychological problems in seniors. While everyone may be at risk for hospital readmissions, seniors who have certain diagnoses may be at higher risk. Here are some diagnoses that often lead to hospital readmissions.
MRSA Infections
Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus, or MRSA, is a serious infection caused by a strain of staph bacteria that has become resistant to some of the most common types of antibiotics prescribed to treat simple staph infections.
MRSA can cause a staph infection of the skin. Symptoms include painful, swollen bumps accompanied by fever. The affected area may also feel warm to the touch, and the bumps may contain pus.
MRSA skin infections can quickly turn into deep abscesses that are painful. Abscesses caused by MRSA infections need to be surgically drained. MRSA skin infections can spread to the joints, bones, bloodstream, lungs, and heart.
A professional caregiver can closely monitor your loved one for post-hospitalization complications, including infections. When searching for reliable elder care agencies, families want to know their senior loved ones will be well taken care of. At Embrace In-Home Care, our expertly trained caregivers are available around the clock to assist with tasks around the house, provide transportation to medical appointments and social events, and much more.
Bladder Infections
If your loved one had an indwelling catheter during the initial hospitalization, he or she may be at risk for a hospital readmission. Indwelling catheters can lead to bladder infections, especially in older adults.
If the catheter was removed on the day of discharge, your loved one may not experience symptoms of a bladder infection until days after returning home. These symptoms may include fever, chills, painful urination, cloudy urine, blood in the urine, and pelvic pain. If a bladder infection isn’t recognized and treated quickly with oral antibiotics, the infection may spread to the kidneys, and your loved one may require another hospitalization for intravenous antibiotic therapy.
Many aging adults need assistance when they return home after being hospitalized. Some seniors only require help with a few daily tasks so they can maintain their independence. However, those living with serious illnesses may need more extensive assistance. Luckily, there is professional live-in care Green Valley, AZ, seniors can rely on. Home can be a safer and more comfortable place for your loved one to live with the help of an expertly trained and dedicated live-in caregiver.
Chemotherapy Complications
If your loved one has been treated for cancer with chemotherapy, he or she may need to go back into the hospital. Complications from chemotherapy are common and may be especially serious in seniors who have suppressed immune systems.
Chemotherapy can cause a low white blood cell count, infections, nausea, vomiting, mouth sores, and weight loss. If your loved one becomes dehydrated as a result of vomiting, he or she may need to go back into the hospital for intravenous fluid and electrolyte treatment. Also, if the chemotherapy has caused severe anemia, a blood transfusion may be recommended.
Organ Rejections
Organ transplants are often lifesaving, but recipients may experience organ rejection. Organ recipients need to take antirejection medications for the rest of their lives. Even if recipients take their medications, organ rejections can occur even years after transplants.
If your loved one has a high fever, tenderness or pain around the transplant area, severe fatigue, fluid retention, weight changes, chest pain, or difficulty breathing, hospital readmission may be warranted. At the hospital, the physician may order intravenous steroid therapy, adjust the dosage of the antirejection drugs, or prescribe new medications. Organ rejection complications can be reversed if they’re diagnosed and treated early enough.
A professional caregiver can be a wonderful source of support for a senior who’s recovering after being hospitalized. If your senior loved one needs help managing an illness or assistance with daily tasks, make sure you choose a top-rated provider of home care service. Green Valley Embrace In-Home Care is here to help your loved one live a happier and healthier life in the golden years. To learn more about our highly trained caregivers, call us at (520) 625-2050.