Hospital Discharge - A Danger to Older Adults? Eldercare Services Can Help

SAN FRANCISCO--(Business Wire)--
Recent news about the high rate of Medicare patients being readmitted within 30
days should alert families to the importance of good follow-through and
follow-up after any hospitalization.

Eldercare Services, a Geriatric Care Management company
(www.EldercareAnswers.com) announces a program for families and individuals that
assists the newly discharged elder with the transition home. The program is
called "An Extra Hand". This program will help with medication reminders and
scheduling of follow-up appointments with primary care physicians.

A major reason for re-admissions, according to the New England Journal of
Medicine, is medication errors or confusion around the discharge medication
list. The senior can be perplexed with medications and, for example, might take
one pill of a new generic drug and a brand name of the same medication - thus
resulting in a reaction that leads the patient back to the hospital. Lack of
follow-up is another major contribution to re-admits. At least 50% of those
discharged fail to schedule a follow-up doctor appointment.

Nearly 20% of all Medicare discharges end up being re-hospitalized. The Obama
Administration and Medicare are developing financial disincentives for hospitals
that re-admit within 30 days.

Single individuals that have been hospitalized for any length of time are most
often coming home to a house without fresh foods. They might lack the energy
they had prior to the illness and won`t be able to safely bathe or prepare
meals. Also, the single elder without 24/7 observation, can suffer a change in
status, and often won't call the health care provider with symptoms that might
be a sign that more significant interventions are warranted.

Linda Fodrini-Johnson, MA, MFT, CMC, Executive Director of Eldercare Services,
suggests that families at a distance or single seniors facing a planned
hospitalization, prepare ahead of time with a program such as "An Extra Hand",
even for just a few days to allow for stabilization and readjustment to
self-care. It might be that they need 24/7 care for a few days or just a few
hours at morning or bedtime. It could be beneficial to have someone to remind
them about medications and/or discharge after-care plans - that include things
such as special diets, exercise or wound care.

Hospitals might propose some in-house systems to ensure discharge follow-ups in
the future. Individuals who are pro-active might consider a Professional
Geriatric Care Manager to assist with all the little details of running the
home: such as starting up the mail, stocking the kitchen, picking up medications
as well as creating reminders of routines that will prevent re-hospitalization
and get that individual back to their optimum functioning levels.
Fodrini-Johnson summarizes, "This is short-time help for long-term wellness."

Eldercare Services is a pioneer in a unique delivery of services, providing
counseling, geriatric care management, family support groups, classes and direct
caregiving with offices in Walnut Creek, Marin, Oakland and San Francisco,
California.

Eldercare Services
Andrea Gonzalez, 866-760-1808

Copyright Business Wire 2009