Decreases in听mobility听as individuals age听can lead to a decline in independence and听more听frail health, which in turn听leads to significant increased risk听of听hospital admission听or听readmission.听Beyond that, older adults are听also听at greater risk for isolation due to听that听lack of mobility and function,听which can听add to听adverse health effects.
Isolation and lack of social integration听contribute to听poor health听more听than genetics.听Among the many impacts of isolation听are听loss of movement, high blood pressure, risk of heart disease, higher risk of stroke, and increased听cognitive decline.听Additionally, as one鈥檚 functional mobility declines, older adults become at higher risk for falls听resulting in听injury,听muscle atrophy, development of wounds听and听exacerbation of illness,听all听of which听increase chances of听hospital admission听or听readmission.
Personal Home Care听Services Provide Valuable Support
Engaging personal听home听care听services听can reduce the effects of immobility and isolation, and ultimately reduce听the odds of听hospital readmission. Personal听home听care听ensures听appropriate supervision听and support听as a person moves听and completes听daily tasks. A听caregiver in the home听also听supports听activities of daily living听(grooming, dressing, meal preparation), and provides听social interaction听that听is so essential to听quality of life.
Personal home care services can have a positive impact on听overall听healthcare costs.听According to 2017 data from the Hospital Readmission Reduction program, hospital readmissions that occur within 30 days of patient discharge cost Medicare approximately听$17 billion annually. Patients between 75-84听years of age听account for the highest number of听those听hospital readmissions.听听Similarly, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention estimated听the total medical costs for falls in the elderly听at听more than $50 billion in 2015, making fall injuries among the most expensive medical听issues.听听As hospital systems continue to be penalized for patient hospital readmissions,听personal听home听care can be a vital听partner听in preventing hospital readmission.
Personal Home Care听Means Individual Attention
Personal听caregivers听are educated to encourage client鈥檚 optimal participation听in functional activity听with the most appropriate assistance to guide and promote the client鈥檚 independence. Caregivers evaluate and support their clients through alternative strategies for self-care and completion of daily tasks in a safe and meaningful way.听They听work with clients to听reduce听health and injury risk by addressing听numerous issues听and听promoting听improved functional mobility. Additionally, caregivers听know their clients well and听are attuned to subtle changes in symptoms and client behavior听that can help听with timely听medical intervention听and avert听avoidable听trips to the emergency room.
Data Collection Is Key
A key to听personal听home听care听success听is data collection.听Establishing a functional baseline and understanding the client鈥檚 prior level of mobility, independence, self-care, and usual living situation is critical to听implementing听appropriate and effective interventions听that lead to positive听outcomes.
Using听the OASIS assessment with听a听focus on the functional scoring components,听including grooming, bathing, transferring, dressing, ambulation and听risk for听hospital听readmission,听provide the foundation for a comprehensive personal care plan leading to听a听successful outcome.听Implementing听OASIS data collection allows organizations to track client outcomes听leading to appropriate care modifications and tools to better support听all听clients.
As a best practice, consider aligning client care plans using the established OASIS assessment as a platform for a thorough assessment and measuring听functional abilities.听听The听小猪视频听HomeCare听software solution听contains the OASIS assessment in the software to promote this vital data collection.
Conclusion
Personal听home听care has many benefits for our aging population, most听significantly听by听improving client鈥檚 quality of life, increasing functional mobility, and reducing hospital readmission.听Implementing data collection to听substantiate good client functional outcomes can lead to continuously improving听care delivery,听increased听client census, and听more effective听community partnerships.