An optimal return from the hospital means not going back

A hospital trip for a medical emergency may save a life, but do you or the person you care for want to repeat the experience? Probably not. That’s why OFA wants to make an older adult’s return home from the hospital less challenging, to break the pattern of return hospital trips.

The Office for the Aging coordinates with care teams at local hospitals, rehabilitation centers, skilled nursing facilities and urgent care centers to reduce the risk of return hospital trips.

Regardless of whether your hospital visit was planned or not, these four steps can help improve the likelihood of successful recovery.

1) Measure your risk: Older adults and their caregivers can advocate for themselves simply by asking about the risk for repeat hospital visits. Health care professionals use tools to identify which older adults are most likely to return to an emergency department after leaving the hospital.

2) Have a care plan ready before discharge time: Don’t go home from the hospital without asking health care providers about what kind of plan will meet an older adult’s unique needs as they continue their recovery. The Office for the Aging can be a key part of planning a successful recovery by working with hospital care teams. Since beginning this effort in 2019, more Dutchess older adults have sought out OFA services for just this reason. It’s a trend we expect will continue in 2024.

3) Listen to that wake-up call: In the case of an unplanned hospital visit, a combination of lifestyle factors and undiagnosed ailments may have led to an older adult’s current situation. It’s never too late to quit smoking, improve diet and exercise, and eliminate other substance use to improve your quality of life and reduce repeat hospital trips. OFA’s website (www.dutchessny.gov/aging) has plenty of tips available in our “Nutrition Services” and “Health and Wellness” sections to find out more.

4) Get the pharmacist in the mix: Anybody taking multiple medications is at risk of drug interactions that lead to serious side effects, especially as they age. The phenomenon is called “polypharmacy.” To prevent it, a pharmacist can review medications and help align timing and dosage for desired effectiveness. If a change in medications is ordered, OFA can direct you to local resources where you can safely dispose of medications that are no longer needed. There’s a list of local law enforcement agencies that operate safe-disposal facilities at dutchessny.gov/aging. For homebound individuals and their caregivers, Deterra brand drug disposal kits are available while supplies last at OFA Friendship Centers throughout the county. The kits cannot be mailed. Please call a Friendship Center to arrange a suitable pickup time.

 

Golden Living is prepared by the Dutchess County Office for the Aging, Todd N. Tancredi, director. Email him at ofa@dutchessny.gov.

The views expressed here are not necessarily those of The Millerton News and The News does not support or oppose candidates for public office.

Latest News

Millbrook Scout completes Eagle Scout leadership work to benefit Angels of Light

Celebrating the completion of his Eagle Scout leadership project to benefit Angels of Light on Friday, March 21, Jayden Loibl, 17, was joined by Angels of Light co-Executive Directors, Lori Cassia-Decker, left, and Danielle Mollica.

Photo by Leila Hawken

MILLBROOK — Capping a lifetime of scouting achievement, Jayden Loibl, 17, has earned the rank of Eagle Scout, completing a community project to handcraft outdoor benches and tables for the local nonprofit Angels of Light building at 28 Front St.

In addition to overseeing the construction of sturdy benches and tables that invite passersby to try them out, Loibl’s major project also created a Love Lock Pillar, and finished off the project by making stencil templates of the nonprofit’s logo to be used to identify the space and invite visitors.

Keep ReadingShow less
Amenia approves sidewalk projectalong Route 44
Amenia Town Hall
Photo by John Coston

AMENIA — Pedestrians will soon be able to walk safely between Broadway and Beekman Park, now that a construction contract has been awarded.

The planning process continued for many months, culminating in an invitation to bid. The Town Board voted unanimously at its regular meeting on Thursday, March 20, to select the lowest bidder, clearing the way for work to begin.

Keep ReadingShow less
Science confirms: It was a cold winter

Spring has officially arrived with freezing night time temperatures forecast through the first week of April.

Photo by Krista A. Briggs

Victoria Kelly, Cary Institute Environmental Monitoring Program Manager and Senior Ecologist, prepared this report.

MILLBROOK — Since 1988 the weather station at the Cary Institute of Ecosystem Studies in the Town of Washington has been keeping track of our local weather — precipitation, temperature, wind, air quality, etc.

Keep ReadingShow less
North East Fire District focuses on budget, spending

The North East Fire house on the south side of Century Boulevard.

Photo by Krista A. Briggs

MILLERTON — The commissioners of the North East Fire District recently held their monthly meeting at the firehouse to discuss their current needs and general business.

Discussion centered around the current work on the 2025 budget and proposed expenditures, which ranged from upgrading their heating/cooling system to the possibility of replacing car no. 3.

Keep ReadingShow less