My mother-in-law, age 93, is happy to be back in her own home after a hospitalization of a couple of weeks followed by nearly six weeks in a rehab place.
But the transition from hospital to rehab or skilled nursing is a danger-filled time, and the transfer to home care is likewise worrisome. See this article in the Washington Post by Jordan Rau:
https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/to-your-health/wp/2016/04/29/from-hospital-to-home-a-dangerous-transition-for-many-patients/?wpmm=1&wpisrc=nl_evening
Medication errors can occur. There's no longer a heart monitor or nurses nearby in case of emergency.
Usually the care-giving is transferred from a team to one person doing round-the-clock care and trying to sleep when the patient sleeps. A tremendous responsibility rests on that one person's shoulders.
It's better if home care can be provided by several aides, each working an 8- or 10-hour shift, with days off each week. But these things are expensive. If the person has long-term care health insurance, it can take weeks to activate that policy to fund or partially fund the care.
"Old age is no place for sissies," said Bette Davis (1908-1989).
But my friend Brenda Holguin doesn't like to hear people complain about getting old.
"Not everyone has that privilege," she notes.
