Prevent Senior Hospitalizations

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Part 2 of 9

Chair Stands Assessment

Use chair stands to help assess an older adult's lower body strength.

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Part 3 of 9

8-foot Up and Go Assessment

This assessment is a measure of an older adult's balance, agility and walking speed.

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Part 4 of 9

Side Leg Raises

Side leg raises help to improve the strength of the hips and legs.

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Part 5 of 9

Weight Shifts

Older adults need to maintain their center of gravity while they are walking. This exercise helps to strengthen the area around their belly button.

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Part 6 of 9

Heel Toe Raises

Heel toe raises help older adults improve the strength of their lower leg muscles which are important for balance during walking.

Hospitalization Risk Meter

Engage with the Hospitalization Risk Meter to learn more about 10 factors that may pose low, moderate and high risk for potential hospitalization.

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Part 7 of 9

One Legged Stand

One legged stands are important for older adults to practice to maintain strength in their center of gravity.

5 Ways Guide

Use this guide, offered by the Home Instead^® network, to learn about five preventative actions that could keep an older adult out of the hospital.

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Part 8 of 9

Heel Toe Walk

This exercise helps maintain balance while moving, like stepping to the side or over things.

Prevent Senior Hospitalizations: Executive Summary

Research conducted by Home Instead, Inc. indicates that the problem of preventable hospitalization of seniors is viewed as very to extremely serious by three-fourths (74.6%) of the North American nurses surveyed who specialize in senior care.

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• Most families would agree that keeping a senior out of the hospital is an important goal. That’s because professionals who work with older adults know that some seniors who are hospitalized don’t always go home the same. Or, they don’t go home at all.

  And yet, research reveals that many of these hospitalizations could be prevented, according to a survey of 400 North American nurses who specialize in senior care and conducted by Home Instead, Inc., franchisor of the Home Instead® network. In fact, this new research showed that nearly half (48.5%) of these hospitalizations could be avoided if the proper preventative steps are taken.

  In fact, these five preventative actions can help reduce the potential risk that an older adult will end up in the hospital:

  1. Follow doctor’s orders
  2. Don’t ignore symptoms
  3. Reduce risks of falls and accidents
  4. Stay active physically and mentally
  5. Maintain a healthy diet

  There’s another vital factor in keeping seniors out of the hospital. It’s family. Nearly 100% of the nurses surveyed agreed that a family’s role in helping to keep seniors healthy and out of the hospital is as important as that of the medical community.

  In spite of that, less than half (48.6%) of the seniors they see have family members who serve as active advocates for their care, according to the survey.

  Here, you’ll learn more about some of the warning signs and risks that may result in potential hospitalization and preventative measures that may help keep a senior out of the hospital.