Speaking of.....OT

Re-Admits Yesterday was a tough day at work. Two of our patients who were discharged a few weeks, were readmitted due to another fall at home. This made me wonder about the safety of elders after they are discharged to return home. The patients are assured with the prospects of home health services or a caregiver, however neither those resources are everlasting. Without family support or the inability to hire a full-time caregiver, the patient is eventually left to take care of themselves. As much as we promote independence in our patients and teach them compensatory ways to increase safety awareness, ultimately they require ongoing attention. A typical patient will spend a few days at the hospital, then approximately another month at a rehab facility where they're provided with a structured schedule and more importantly, a safe environment. Most of the patients I have seen in my short time as a therapist, I have noted that as  much as they look forward to being in their own hom...