Prevent Hospitalizations

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 Senior Care® 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.

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