Page 25 - Leisure Living Magazine May 2017

Half Of Senior Hospitalizations Can Be Prevented
Approximately half of hospitalizations among older Americans could be prevented, according to a new study of nurses who work primarily with seniors.
There are five simple steps that can help re- duce the potential risk that an older adult will end up in the hospital. He or she should be sure to:
1. Follow doctors’ orders. Two in five nurses say one of the easiest ways to help prevent hospi- talization is to
follow doctors’
orders.
2. Not ig- nore symp- toms. It’s better to be safe than sorry when it comes to ab- normal aches and pains. Yet 27.5 percent of the nurses surveyed said waiting too long to see a doctor is the most common thing seniors do that puts
them at risk.
3. Take proper pre-
cautions to reduce risks of falls and accidents, including balance exercises, handrails and proper lighting.
4. Stay active physically and mentally.
5. Maintain a healthy, balanced diet.
Most important, however, according to re-
spondents, is family. Ninety-nine percent of nurs- es polled said the role that families play in keeping seniors out of the hospital is just as important as that of the medical community. Fewer than half of seniors have a medical advocate, however, a role primarily filled by family members.
“Preventing hospitalizations among seniors is critical, as a hospital stay often leads to more serious health declines,” explains Jeff Huber, pres-
ident of Home Instead, Inc. “Because we contin- ually see this decline among hospitalized seniors, the Home Instead Senior Care network is intro- ducing new resources for families and seniors in an effort to help decrease hospitalizations so that seniors may remain at home and healthy year- round.”
The “5 Ways to Prevent Senior Hospitaliza- tions” guide-developed by the organization with Dr. Carolyn Clevenger, in- coming pres- ident of the Gerontologi- cal Advanced Practice Nurs- es Associa- tion-can help families iden- tify and act on potential warn- ing signs. It’s free at www. preventsenior- hospitaliza- tions.com and includes infor- mation about common risk factors and the steps that fam- ilies can take to
help ensure a healthy lifestyle.
In addition, a Web-based “Hospitalization
Risk Meter” can help family caregivers tune in to the habits of their senior loved ones in an effort to help them avoid the risks of hospitalization.
Additional free resources include informa- tion on potential hazards to address in senior homes, preventative health measures that seniors can begin immediately, tips for medication man- agement, balance assessment techniques and fall prevention tips.
For more information, visit www.preventse- niorhospitalizations.com.
LeisureLiving May 2017
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