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Lower Risk
Physical & Mental Health: Lacking interests and hobbies
It is important to keep seniors on the move physically and engaged mentally. 90% of nurses surveyed said lack of interests and hobbies are potential risks for hospitalization.
Check out these resources to learn more about this potential risk and help prevent senior hospitalizations℠:
- Visit www.GetMomMoving.com for activity ideas to do with your loved one, like a movie night or daily puzzles.
- Learn more about the Give Back Program, developed to allow seniors who are homebound or frail to be able to give back to their community.
- Contact your local Home Instead® office to learn more about companionship services.
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Lower Risk
Diet & Mealtime: Problems with cooking and mealtime routine
One of the biggest risks to a senior’s health is poor diet. 98% of nurses surveyed said proper nutrition is one of the top ways to help seniors avoid hospitalization in the long run.
Check out these resources to learn more about this potential risk and help prevent senior hospitalizations:
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Moderate Risk
Medical Care: Missed doctor’s appointments
Of the nurses surveyed, “unwillingness to change ways” was the most common barrier that prevents seniors from complying with instructions given by a doctor.
Check out these resources to learn more about this potential risk and help prevent senior hospitalizations:
- View this instructional video series to get tips on helping your senior loved one communicate with health care providers.
- Download a Doctor Visit Worksheet to help you and your loved one keep track of information given at doctor’s appointments.
- If your senior loved one doesn’t have transportation to a medical appointment, contact a relative, friend, a local Area Agency on Aging or a professional caregiving company, such as your local Home Instead office.
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Moderate Risk
Medical Care: New or increasing medications
Medication mismanagement is one of the leading problems that can send your senior loved one back to the hospital. In fact, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, adverse drug events cause over 700,000 emergency department visits each year and nearly 120,000 of those patients are hospitalized for further treatment.
Check out these resources to learn more about this potential risk and help prevent senior hospitalizations:
- Download a medication tracker at www.SeniorEmergencyKit.com.
- View the Educational Video Series on How to Help Your Senior Manage Medications
- View 5 key ways to help keep your senior loved one on track with taking his or her new medicine.
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Moderate Risk
Diet & Mealtime: Weight fluctuations and nutritional issues
If a senior is living alone, he or she may not be getting a balanced diet. 93% of nurses surveyed said loss of appetite is an important warning sign that could potentially indicate a senior is at risk of hospitalization.
Check out these resources to learn more about this potential risk and help prevent senior hospitalizations:
- Learn about the signs of poor nutrition on www.CaregiverStress.com, within the “Cooking Under Pressure” program.
- For loved ones with Alzheimer’s Disease or other dementias, view Caregiver Advice on Nutrition and Mealtime.
- Understand Nutritional Risks: The Warning Signs
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Moderate Risk
Safety: Problems with vision or hearing
In an interview of 600 seniors aged 65 and older, 33% of them had trips to the hospital and ER that were caused by falls and other accidents at the home. Problems with eyesight and/or hearing can increase the risk for accidents in the home.
Check out these resources to learn more about this potential risk and help prevent senior hospitalizations:
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Higher Risk
Safety: Falls, accidents and mobility issues
Making their home free of hazards is one of the top action items families can take to help keep their seniors healthy and out of the hospital.
Check out these resources to learn more about this potential risk and help prevent senior hospitalizations:
- Visit http://gero.usc.edu/faculty/pynoos/ for information on aging in place.
- Visit http://stopfalls.org/ for fall prevention information.
- Take the Home Safety Tour to help identify potential hazardous areas in the home.
- Download this Home Safety Checklist to determine if your loved one’s home is hazard-proof.
- Here are Five Fixes Under $500 to help modify a senior’s home for safety.
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Higher Risk
Physical & Mental Health: Chronic conditions
A worsening of chronic conditions is an important warning sign for potential risk of hospitalization. Without proper care, chronic conditions can also contribute to a senior’s readmission to a hospital.
Check out these resources to learn more about this potential risk and help prevent senior hospitalizations:
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Higher Risk
Medical Care: Ignoring the symptoms
It is always better to be safe than sorry when it comes to abnormal aches and pains, but often times our senior loved ones ignore such symptoms. 27.5% of nurses surveyed said waiting too long to see a doctor is the most common thing that seniors do that puts them at risk.
Check out these resources to learn more about this potential risk and help prevent senior hospitalizations:
- View this video for tips on what to look for that may indicate physical or mental issues.
- When It’s Time to go to the Doctor, Here’s What to Ask
- View the Educational Video Series on Patient/Doctor Communication
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Higher Risk
Physical & Mental Health: Alzheimer‘s and other dementias
Alzheimer’s Disease and other dementias put seniors at a high risk for hospitalization. Difficult behaviors such as social isolation, poor nutrition and bad hygiene can also increase the risk for hospitalization.
Check out these resources to learn more about this potential risk and help prevent senior hospitalizations:
- Confidence to Care: A Resource for Family Caregivers Providing Alzheimer’s Disease or Other Dementias Care at Home
- Alzheimer’s and Other Dementias Daily Companion App — Available for iOS and Android devices.
- Download the Alzheimer’s and Dementia Senior Emergency Kit.