While we’d like to imagine enjoying a Norman Rockwell-worthy Thanksgiving celebration, with all of our loved ones spending quality time together and Grandma’s traditional holiday feast, the reality is that numerous families will instead experience something unforeseen: an ER visit. In fact, research shows that emergency room visits for older adults increase around 10 – 20% during the holidays.
Although pinpointing the reason behind this statistical increase is tricky, one issue could be that family members who have not been spending significant time with an elderly relative in the timeframe prior to the holiday season discover, during a visit for the holiday, that his/her health condition has deteriorated and there is now reason for concern.
Dr. Tamara Kuittinen of Lenox Hill Hospital shares, “It’s an issue of out of sight, out of mind for many people. If you haven’t seen your mom in six months, you may not be fully aware of the aging process and her health in general.”
Not only that, there are some common changes related to aging that may be misconstrued, causing family members to feel that an ER visit is required.
There are, nonetheless, some proactive measures that can be taken to help avoid an ER visit during the holidays:
- Maintain a listing of contact information for your loved one’s primary care physician and other medical specialists. Make sure the list contains all medications prescribed by each physician and any medication allergies or other issues. Contacting the appropriate doctor for his/her suggestions about your concerns is a wise first step prior to an ER visit, unless of course the older person is experiencing a true emergency.
- Talk with the older adult about appointing a health care proxy, who will be able to make health decisions if your loved one is unable to do so. Make certain a living will is in place as well.
- Check in with your senior loved one regularly during the course of the year. For family members who live at a distance, it’s beneficial to enlist the aid of your loved one’s neighbors or close friends to stop in to see the senior routinely and to update you with any changes they notice.
Of course, if it is an actual emergency, never hesitate to call 911 and seek the emergency medical care required immediately.
A professional home care agency, like Compassionate Care Home Health Services, Inc., is the ideal solution to make sure your loved ones continue to remain healthy and well, and that any changes in condition are addressed immediately – so the holidays will remain as festive and enjoyable as they should be. Just a few of the many ways we can help include:
- Medication reminders
- Meal planning and preparation
- Household chores and laundry
- Personal care assistance
- And many more
Call us at 877.308.1212 to learn more about our professional home care services, to arrange for a free in-home assessment, and to find out if our services are available in your area. Our team of highly-qualified professionals is available to provide Mid-Michigan home health and hospice services over the holidays and year-round. See our full service area and multiple locations across Michigan.