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Ways Skilled Nursing Helps Older Adults

Skilled Nursing in Portland

As your mom ages, you worry about her being alone. It’s especially worrisome, as her health is changing and you live on the other side of the country. She falls and breaks her hip–you get a call. Before you panic and try to force her to move across the country, look at the ways skilled nursing will help her during her recovery.

Incision and Wound Care

If your mom has incisions that require bandage changes and wound care, skilled nurses are ideal. They’ll remove bandages, clean the incision, and apply new dressings. If there are signs of infection, they’ll work with her surgeon to determine the next course of action.

Often, your mom will be given antibiotics once the wound is fully cleaned. Her nurse can help with any injectable or IV medications without having to return to the hospital.

Medication Management

What medications is your mom taking while she heals? Prescription pain relievers must be carefully administered to prevent an overdose, and tapered off to reduce the risk of dependency. With skilled nursing care, nurses administer the doses at the proper time and taper them following the doctor’s orders.

Your mom’s surgeon may recommend antibiotics to prevent infection, especially if the incision isn’t healing properly. It reduces the chances of your mom returning to the hospital for additional treatments. The more recovery she does at home, the better it is for her.

Health Checks

Your mom’s skilled nurses can check on her each day and let doctors know what your mom’s blood pressure is. If there are worries about it being too low or too high on the medications she’s taking for pain, her nurse works with her doctor to adjust them or change to different medications.

Her nurses can also assess her emotional and mental well-being. After a fall and hip fracture, your mom’s mental health may take a hit. Anxiety and depression are common. If there are concerns, her nurses can relay that information to her doctors for recommendations on the next steps. Companionship services may be recommended, and that’s something you’d arrange for your mom.

Physical Therapy

Your mom will need physical therapy to regain strength and mobility. Instead of having to get rides to her therapist’s office, skilled nursing services arrange to have PT experts go to your mom’s home to help her with her strengthening exercises.

Talk to her medical team and ask about skilled nursing care. Spend as much time as possible with her, but do not stress her with a discussion about moving her to a new location. With skilled nursing care and home care services after that, your mom will do well in her current home.

If you or an aging loved one are considering hiring Skilled Nursing in Portland, OR, please contact the caring staff at Integrity In-Home Care. Call today at (503) 660-3755.