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Reducing Readmission to Hospitals and Improving Quality of Life

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By: Mohamed Basha, RN CMC BA AAS AA
Care Manger Certified & Aging Life Care Professionals

According to the New England Journal of Medicine, 1 in 5 Medicare patients discharged from the hospital are readmitted within 30 days. Most readmission are seniors and they often occur because of medication problems, nutrition mismanagement, falls in the home, and not following up with the doctor. Safety issues, nutrition and hydration challenges, limited support, and overwhelming responsibilities can make returning home from the hospital a difficult transition.  Often these patients do not meet the criteria for Home Health Care such as skilled nursing services or physical therapy. 

Hospitals are under increasing pressure to reduce readmission rates under the Affordable Healthcare Act’s Hospital Re-admissions Reduction Program which lays out a plan to cut Medicare payments for under performing hospitals.  Numerous studies have shown the importance of post-discharge care in preventing readmission. In particular, using home care with a professionally-led transitional team has been shown to significantly reduce readmission.  A study conducted at Baylor Medical Center found that a nurse-led transitional program reduced adjusted 30-day readmission rates by 48%.

TLC HomeCare Services provides home care services, enabling seniors to transition and remain safely in their homes.  Furthermore, TLC provides care services to people of all ages, physical conditions and cognitive abilities. TLC HomeCare helps seniors and those with disabilities live longer, healthier, and more independent lives in the comfort of familiar surroundings. Home care is something that keeps families together, helps them adjust to a new lifestyle, and affords greater dignity.

TLC HomeCare services are supervised and coordinated by Registered Nurses. This unique touch gives the patient and their family greater peace of mind knowing that their health and wellness are incorporated into the services that they receive. TLC creates a custom Care Plan that is designed to meet an individual’s physical and psycho-social needs. TLC evaluates client’s needs and preferences to make the best possible match with a caregiver.  

TLC’s caregivers can assist with the tasks of daily living such as medication reminders, meal preparation, light housekeeping, shopping, transportation and companionship.  Personal care including help with bathing, dressing, toileting and ambulation are also part of the services that are provided.
TLC’s caregivers are carefully screened, trained, and bonded. The scheduling, payroll, taxes, insurance, and Workers Compensation are all handled by TLC HomeCare.  TLC provides its clients 24/7 around-the-clock on-call support to offer the best service and a peace of mind. 

A trusted, experienced home care agency such as TLC HomeCare can provide peace of mind, improved health outcomes and a better quality of life for you and your loved ones.  Making homecare part of the discharge plan can ultimately reduce hospital readmission by optimizing wellness, independence, and safety, while keeping seniors where they want to be: at home.

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