In an effort to help people become proactive rather than reactive as they age, we’re continuing our Caregiver Resource Series with an article from Jeff Vavricek, Vice President of Programs and Services for Right at Home. In addition to offering in-home senior care to their clients, Right At Home also has a RightTransitions® Program that provides help to people who need help transitioning out of the hospital or rehab and back into their own home.
Could Right Transitions Be Right For You?
Right at Home was inspired to create the RightTransitions Program in 2011 in order to address penalties that hospitals were facing for high readmission rates, particularly for seniors. The main conditions that were guilty of those high readmission rates? Heart attack, heart failure, and pneumonia (hip and knee replacements were added in subsequent years).
Many hospitals found that seniors were not prepared or well-equipped enough at home to manage their post-hospital recovery. Even in situations where the patients transition from the hospital to rehab, often there wasn’t enough support to ensure that hospital discharge instructions were being followed. Both facilities and family members simply don’t have the resources of the time to give such individualized care to patients.
That’s where the RightTransitions program from Right at Home becomes instrumental.
In the RightTransitions program caregivers work directly with providers from other care settings in order to best manage a patient’s recovery upon being discharged from the hospital. Caregivers observe red flags that might arise, provide medication reminders and even provide transportation to and from important doctor’s appointments.
When you or your loved one signs up for the RightTransitions program, you can take advantage of the following benefits:
- Regular Communication. This applies to family members and healthcare providers. We work hard to make sure that everyone is on the same page regarding recovery information, which is an important step towards a healthy recovery.
- Regular Visits. Right At Home caregivers will regularly check in with you or your loved one to help adhere to the discharge instructions and observe the patients progress.
- Medication Reminders. Often times, patients have trouble remembering how to take their medications Right At Home caregivers provide reminders to clients so they stay compliant with their medication schedule.
- Transportation. Many seniors are unable to drive after a hospitalization and don’t have a support structure in place to give them a ride. Right At Home caregivers can provide transportation both to or from doctor’s appointments for you or your loved one.
- Meal Preparation. It’s hard to make a full recovery if you’re not eating well-balanced, nutritious meals. It’s also not easy to cook well-balanced, nutritious meals when you’ve recently left the hospital. Right Transitions caregivers can prepare meals for any diet and will observe dietary restrictions as well.
- Housework. While you or your loved one recover, it can be tough to keep up with all that has to get done around the house. Our caregivers can help by taking care of day-to-day chores, such as vacuuming, washing dishes, and keeping kitchens and bathrooms clean.
If you or a loved one are in need of help upon leaving the hospital or rehab, Right At Home’s Right Transitions program can help. Recovering from a medical condition can be stressful enough without the added anxiety about how you’ll be able to provide the level of care necessary for full recuperation.
Jeff Vavricek is the Vice President of Programs and Services for Right At Home. Right at Home’s RightTransitions Program is available nationwide.
To find a Right at Home location in your local area, refer to the green box of “Where do you need service?” on Right at Home’s web page. Follow Right at Home on the social media outlets of your choice.
