The post-hospitalization patient requires regular observation and care in the critical days and weeks following a hospital discharge. While a family member may have the best intentions when deciding to serve as a caregiver for a recently hospitalized loved one, the burden is often too great for the untrained caregiver. Family caregivers often experience clinically significant symptoms of depression as a result of the added responsibility and stress associated with caregiving. Home care agencies like Home Care Assistance have professional, trained, compassionate caregivers available to provide post-hospitalization care. Their care managers can provide expert planning and coordination as your loved one exits the hospital and begins recovery at home. Their caregivers are experienced in the recovery and rehabilitation process and can serve as a constant source of support for the recently discharged individual. Please visit our Hospital to Home Care Tools and Resources page for more resources and downloadable guides to help you understand your home care options, manage the hospital to home care process and better evaluate your needs. Home Care Assistance has a Transition Home Package, designed to provide care and support tailored to the unique needs of post-hospitalization patients.

Please visit Your Online Resource for Hospital Discharge Process.

When your aging parent or loved one needs home care in San Mateo, call Home Care Assistance, we can be reached at (650) 462-6900.

The discharge planning team is responsible for coordinating a patient’s transition out of the hospital and his or her post-hospitalization recovery. As a hospital stay — be it for a planned surgery or unexpected admission — draws to a close, there are typically two options for post-hospitalization care. The hospital care team may recommend that the patient continue to heal and regain strength in a rehabilitation facility, or depending on a patient’s needs and desires, the care team may recommend recovery and rehabilitation at home.

The following tips can help patients and their families plan effectively for discharge and recovery.

Understand your care options prior to discharge. If you prefer to recover at home, make your feelings known to the discharge team.

Write a list of your prescription drugs, over-the-counter drugs, supplements and vitamins, including your regular dosage and medication times. Make sure the medical team is aware of any drugs you were taking prior to hospitalization to prevent unintended complications.

Obtain a list of home medical equipment, such as a walker or hospital bed, to facilitate your recovery at home. You should plan to acquire and install this equipment prior to discharge.

If you require regular therapy, testing or medical check-ups, write down a schedule of your appointments, including contact information for each.

Ask the staff to demonstrate any tasks that require special skills, such as changing a bandage.

Ask your discharge team about common problems for patients with your health condition, what you can do to reduce your risk and what you should do in the event of emergency.

Understand your physical limitations and areas where you need support. For example, you may have mobility issues after discharge that will prevent you from safely walking around the hours or running errands.

Ask to speak with a social worker if have concerns about coping with your illness. A social worker can provide you and your family with information on managing your illness, support groups and other resources.

Request written discharge instructions and a summary of your current health status. Bring this information and your medication list with you to any follow-up medical appointments.

Please visit Your Online Resource for Hospital Discharge Process.

When your aging parent or loved one needs home care in San Mateo, call Home Care Assistance, we can be reached at (650) 462-6900.

Home Care Assistance, a provider of in-home and live-in care for older adults, announced the Hospital to Home Care Program, a comprehensive set of educational resources for families managing the difficult transition home after hospitalization.

The program helps families prepare for discharge, manage the unique needs of post-hospitalization patients and coordinate recovery at home.

The program is supported by the book, From Hospital to Home Care, written by Home Care Assistance co-founders Dr. Kathy Johnson, Dr. James Johnson and Lily Sarafan.

Home Care Assistance is also excited to unveil HospitaltoHomeCare.com, a free online resource for families seeking information about the discharge process and recovery at home.

Hospital to Home Care is part of a long-term initiative at Home Care Assistance to encourage recovery and rehabilitation at home while reducing avoidable hospital re-admissions.

From Hospital to Home Care: A Step by Step Guide to Providing Care to Patients Post Hospitalization is available for pre-order on Amazon.com for $17.95. A 16-page PDF guide to the discharge and recovery process is available for free at HospitaltoHomeCare.com.

For more information about Home Care Assistance or to learn more about the transition from hospital to home, please visit HomeCareAssistance.com or call (650) 462-6900. Read the press release MyCentralJersey.com.

When your aging parent or loved one needs home care in San Mateo, call Home Care Assistance, we can be reached at (650) 462-6900.

One of the leading causes of hospital readmission or slow post-hospitalization recovery is the lack of proper support following a hospital discharge. Whether you are transitioning directly home after a hospitalization or moving through the care continuum via a rehabilitation or medical care facility, in-home care is a key resource for a safe and successful recovery process.

At Home Care Assistance, we are committed to the well being and safety of the clients we are privileged to serve. Many of our clients come to us following a hospitalization. They are referred to us by physicians, discharge planners, social workers and case managers; health and wellness professionals know that the transition from hospital to home can be a challenging one for patients and their families. One of the leading causes of hospital readmission or slow post-hospitalization recovery is the lack of proper support immediately following a hospital discharge.

As the leading experts in post-hospitalization care, we developed this guide to provide an overview of the challenges and resources associated with each step in the transition from hospital to home. The guide will first describe what the discharge process entails and the key players involved. Next, it will provide a step-by-step summary on ensuring optimal care post-hospitalization. The transition out of the security of the hospital setting may seem daunting at first, but remember that you are not alone in this process. There is a team of individuals inside the hospital and in the greater care community to ensure that all of your needs are met. We hope our From Hospital to Home Care guide will equip you with the information you need to make the best decisions possible.

Please visit Your Online Resource for Hospital Discharge Process.

When your aging parent or loved one needs home care in San Mateo, call Home Care Assistance, we can be reached at (650) 462-6900.

At this time of the year when your options for local, seasonal fruits are either apples or…apples. The California Citrus growers do not have a tasty crop yet, and 90 percent of what’s in your grocery store has been shipped in from far, far away, lacking in nutrition. You may be missing out on some of the most nutritious, unique fruits—grown in the U.S.—that are available this time of year.

Here is a list of fruit to choose from so that you can select those  with highest levels of heart-healthy antioxidants to make your heart happy without having to pollute the planet with fruit flown in from another hemisphere.

Kumquats
Forget pomegranates—start popping kumquats. The tiny little olive-sized citrus fruits are full of disease-fighting antioxidants, which are contained in their sweet, edible skin. A serving of five (which is about five calories) also contains one-fifth of your daily fiber needs, along with a healthy dose of potassium and vitamins A and C.

Carambolas, or Star Fruit
Exotic fruits are generally higher in vitamin C, higher in potassium, and lower in calories than domestic fruits, and carambolas, or star fruits, are no exception. High in inflammation-lowering polyphenols, they’re also great for your heart and full of fiber.

Quinces
They may look like their relatives, apples and pears, but quinces are much healthier and may actually help ward off the flu. With twice the vitamin C of its native relatives, quinces are also high in anti-viral phenolic compounds that have been found to combat the influenza virus.

Rambutans
In Hawaii, the decline of the sugarcane plantations has led to a burgeoning specialty fruit industry, and antioxidant powerhouses rambutans, lychees and longans are now grown there.

Longans
Another relative of the lychee, longans are native to China but now are grown in Hawaii and in Puerto Rico. Stock up on them this time of year because they’ve traditionally been used to settle upset stomachs and fever reducers, making them great natural flu remedies, and like their relatives, longans are high in disease-fighting antioxidants.

Persimmons
A study in the Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry found that a persimmon a day could be better for your heart than an apple, because they contain significantly higher concentrations of the dietary fiber, minerals and phenolic compounds that prevent atherosclerosis, a leading cause of heart disease, heart attacks and stroke.

Asian Pears
Though their softer Bosch relatives are long gone by now, hard-when-ripe Asian pears are perfect for cold storage and easy to find in farmer’s markets and grocery stores this time of year. Why that’s a good thing? Asian pears have significantly more fiber than other pear varieties, so chomping down on one a day is good for your heart and wards off diabetes.

Read the full article on Health.Yahoo.net.

When your aging parent or loved one needs home care in San Mateo, call Home Care Assistance, we can be reached at (650) 462-6900.