Understanding Short-term Care Benefits For Older Adults
Seniors who suffer an injury or illness may need extra care for a short period of time, and short-term care can be a fantastic option for them. Short-term care can also be used for other reasons, such as to help a caregiver or as transitional care before returning home after a hospital visit. No matter why short-term care is needed, it can provide a number of benefits for seniors, including the following.
Faster Recovery for Seniors
Many seniors have trouble recovering from major illnesses or injuries and can end up readmitted to the hospital due to complications. However, the short-term senior support options available today can help to prevent this. With short-term care, seniors can take advantage of physical or occupational support, 24/7 nursing care, medication management, and more to help them fully recover and avoid potential complications that could mean another hospital stay. This helps them to recover faster, too, so they can return home faster.
Relief for Caregivers
Family caregivers often suffer from burnout when they try to help their loved one while still keeping up with their own lives. It’s a lot of work, and there aren’t many opportunities for a well-needed break for the caregiver to focus on their own health and well-being. One way to help prevent caregiver burnout is to take advantage of short-term care, as this gives them the break they need while still ensuring their loved one is cared for and able to get the help they need. The short-term care could be exactly what everyone needs to take a break and reduce stress.
Safe Transition From Hospital
The transition from hospital to home can be more complex for seniors if the right care isn’t in place for them yet. It may be necessary to make changes around their home, for instance, to make it easier for them to get around or to ensure they can do all of the tasks they need to be able to do at home, such as getting dressed or making food. Short-term care can help provide the care they need while the home is being fixed, ensure they have help with daily living tasks, and make it easier for them to get to their appointments so they can fully recover and be ready to go home when their home is ready.
Experience Long-Term Living Options
Seniors may be worried about long-term living options because they don’t want to give up their home, or they’re afraid of what the long-term solution will look like for them. Instead of going all-in and moving into a long-term community for care, seniors can schedule a shorter visit to see what the place is like and whether they’ll like living there. This enables them to personally evaluate the care and services they receive, see if it’s a place where they’ll be comfortable, and try out the different amenities or activities to find out if they’ll enjoy it and if it would be a better long-term solution for them.
If your loved one needs extra help while recovering or you’re in need of more help to prevent caregiver burnout, short-term care can be an excellent option. It’s a good idea to check into the short-term care options ahead of time to know what the choices are and what to expect from them if they are ever needed. Take a look at different options now to learn more.
