One of the most stressful moments for any caregiver comes when an elderly loved one is hospitalized. The hospital can be a scary place. The fear that people feel when entrusting the care of someone dear to the vagaries of a large hospital are not unfounded. It is well documented that older patients are at risk for a whole host of complications when hospitalized. Some of these include confusion, infections, bed sores, weakness and falls.The following are some tips for avoiding complications and getting better care.1) Avoid the hospital altogether if possible!Sometimes it is unavoidable – and can provide life-saving care. At other times, particularly for patients with advanced dementia or other severe disease, it may not be what the patient needs or wants. Clarifying advance directives (i.e. living wills or health care proxy) will give you a better sense of what your loved one would like. A good first question for a doctor who advises you to take a loved one to the ER is “what will they be able to do for him or her”. For example, a woman I met told me about her mother-in-law with advanced dementia living in a nursing home. The home had called… Read full this story
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