Your Free Guide to Respite Care After Hospital in Ascot
Here's a handy, free guide to respite care after hospital in Ascot. We'll include everything you need to make your initial enquiries.
Respite Care After Hospital: Why it is an Important Aid to Recovery
According to thegovernment’s data, there were 16.6 million hospital admissions in England in 2017. 3.5 million (22.2%) were people over 75, despite this age group only representing 8.2% of the population.
The total days spent in hospital among those over 75 was 43.8 million in 2017, an average of 12.5 days per person. For many, the reason why they stay in a hospital as long as they do is that there is no safe space to discharge them. And this is due to several things. It might be that Mum or Dad live alone and would find it difficult to cope if returned to daily life. They may not have family close by to assist them. Or, as is most likely the case, there simply isn’t social care available at the time.
Unfortunately, the longer our loved ones remain in hospital beds, the more their bodies decondition, and their mental health deteriorates, which can cause prolonged recovery. In many of the respite clients we serve, we have witnessed
- loss of muscle mass and function
- an increase in infection
- cognitive decline
- psychological impact (stress, confidence and depression)
[If you need help with preventative steps to avoid hospital stays for Mum and Dad, we have a guide called “Preventing Hospital Admissions: How to Keep Mum & Dad Safe“, which will help you spot and monitor some common problems.]
So if Mum and Dad have been in hospital, what can you do to help them recover better? Engage respite care services for them to come home to. Or engage in respite care as soon as you can after the fact.
What is Respite Care, and Why is Respite Care at Home the Best Option?
Respite care is short-term (or long-term), temporary care that provides relief for primary caregivers and, most importantly, aids the recovery of those who need it.
Respite care in the client’s home is becoming more commonplace and highly benefits recovery rates. And because they are in their own environment, Mum and Dad feel less stressed or anxious. They also have the opportunity (and assisted motivation) to regain their independence quickly. Remember, as we get older, we fear losing our independence more; for many, we will automatically think that a hospital stay may mean an inevitable move to a care home. This stigma alone can have a negative impact on our mental and physical health. Respite Care Professionals are adept at spotting potential psychological and health issues and adapting care to assist, motivate and comfort clients during their transition back to independence.
The respite care you receive will depend entirely on your unique situation and can include services like:
- personal care
- physiotherapy
- waking night care
- or live-in care
So how do you work out what you need and how long for?
Respite Care After Hospital: How to Know What You Need and for How Long
In our view, respite care after hospital is a careful consideration, but a decision you shouldn’t feel you need to make alone. And that’s where a friendly home care team (like Home Instead Ascot) can be a great asset to have in your back pocket. You simply call us, and we’ll have a good chat and help you put something into place for Mum and Dad to come home to. Services can then be adapted and downscaled based on their individual recovery.
Respite Care After Hospital: Patsy's Story
It’s always helpful to hear client’s stories, isn’t it? We find it can help you visualise what emergency respite care might look like, so we’d like to introduce you to Patsy and her daughter.
Patsy needed two weeks of emergency respite care following a stay in hospital due to a fractured elbow. She was discharged with her arm in a sling and was told to rest and not lift anything, which would be difficult as she lives independently.
Patsy’s family was concerned about how she would manage simple everyday tasks while she was recovering from her injury, so they enquired about respite care, which we were able to implement on hospital discharge.
Ashley was Patsy’s live-in Respite Care Professional for the duration, and immediately, they got on like a house on fire (a good match is a big win in client recovery rates!) Ashley helped Patsy with her day-to-day routines of dressing, preparing meals and home help to ensure she could continue living well. Our home-cooked meals and careful pain management really helped Patsy find her spark again.
Weeks later, Patsy fully recovered but decided to continue receiving hourly care from Home Instead. She now spends her time with a carer, going to cafes and browsing the shops together. You see, companionship was something Patsy realised she needed more of as she recovered. Implementing this has allowed her to remain independent and stay connected to the community she loves.
Patsy commented that her care professionals are “miraculous”. “They are always doing extra things to help and support me, and if something goes wrong or I am worried about something, I find it very reassuring to know my carer will be coming soon, and they will help sort it out.”
“I find it amazing that they always know exactly what they can do that will help me without interfering.”
Patsy’s daughter commented, “Respite care has certainly been a lifeline for us. And having Home Instead carers in place after her time in hospital made recovery so much easier.”
[Looking for another respite care story?Meet Donald, who recently needed short-term respite care]
Respite Care After Hospital the Home Instead Ascot Way
Now that you have heard a little about what we offer and how we can help, we’d like to share how our respite care after hospital differs.
You see, unlike most, we recognise the value of taking a holistic approach to elder care, treating the mind, body and soul. Because it is essential that Mum and Dad’s home care helps them physically, mentally and emotionally recover. That’s why it is vital that they receive tailored respite care from carefully matched care professionals – they respond better if they feel seen, heard and respected. There’s a tangible element of control over their future.
More than that a good recovery happens when the right care works with the wider family. When it fits your dynamic, allowing you all the time and space to adjust to what can sometimes feel like a shock to the system, particularly if Mum and Dad seemed well before their hospital stay.
Respite care should support you as well as your loved one. And that’s what we strive to do.
So, if you are looking for respite care near Ascot, we would love to hear from you and show you how we can help.
We cover the following areas:
– Ascot Home Instead Hub: Ascot, Bisley, Chobham, Sunningdale, Sunninghill, West End and Windlesham
– Camberley Home Instead Hub: Bagshot, Blackwater, Camberley, Crowthorne, Lightwater and Yateley
– Wokingham Home Instead Hub: Binfield, Bracknell, Sandhurst, Warfield, Winkfield and Wokingham