Home Care Services Can Reduce Hospital Readmission Rates For Heart Attack Victims

Home care senior services may be the necessary link to provide continuous care for heart attack patients in order to lower the rate of reoccurrence and hospital readmission.

According to a recent study reported in HealthDay News, patients in the United States are more likely to be readmitted to a hospital following a heart attack than in other countries such as England or Germany.

The study, recently published in the Journal of the American Medical Association, identifies length of stay as one of the biggest predictors of hospital readmission for heart attack victims. According to the study, patients in the United States were held at the hospital following a heart attack for an average of three days compared to six, seven, or even eight days in 16 other countries.

Doctors from Duke University who participated in the study feel that it may be due to the fact that care in the U.S. is not as integrated as it is in other countries. Patients generally are admitted to a hospital, treated for symptoms and conditions, and then released home where follow-up care is left to the patient to schedule and complete. When patients do not follow up with their general care practitioner or cardiologist, or fail to maintain the necessary medication regime, there is a spike in the likelihood that they will be back in the hospital within 30 days with further heart problems.

However, there is a solution to filling this gap in follow-up care. Home care services like ComForcare Home Care provide patients with continuous care and assistance following a hospital stay. Home care and elderly care providers can assist patients in the transition from the hospital to home by providing assistance in transportation to doctor appointments for follow-up exams and treatments, and to the pharmacy so prescriptions are filled on time.

Home care and elderly care providers also help patients manage the daily tasks of life including meal preparation, medication reminders, light housekeeping, and general hygiene assistance. Home care providers can also support families who are providing the primary care for their senior loved ones by providing respite care when family caregivers need to work or care for their children. Professional home care services are available on a part-time or full-time basis.

If you or a loved one has suffered a heart attack, fight back against the statistics by getting the care you need to ensure recovery. Consider hiring a home care provider to help make your transition back to health and independence an easier, more successful process.