About 64 of 100,000 adults aged 65 or older have a primary brain tumor. Your mom is one of them, and she’s going to have brain surgery followed by chemo and radiation. You want to be there to help out, which is great, but you also need to look into post-hospital care.
Talk to your mom’s surgeon and get all of the information regarding post-surgery care. When you have post-hospital care nurses at her home and ready to help her through the recovery, she’s out of the hospital faster and in a comfortable setting where her recovery is going to be less stressful for her and the family.
Medication Administration
Your mom’s surgeon will prescribe the appropriate pain medication. Your mom needs to carefully take them, and a nurse is helpful for that. Certain medications need to be avoided as they increase the risk of bleeding. Make sure your mom has a nurse to monitor what medications your mom takes and ensure she’s not taking too much.
Incision Care
Your mom will have at least one incision and it needs to be treated with care. The incision may have stitches or staples that will be removed in a week or two. When she washes her hair, she has to do so carefully. A nurse can help her check her incision for problems and reapply bandages as directed.
She Needs at Least Four Weeks of Limited Activity and Lots of Rest
Typically, your mom’s surgeon will tell her to avoid as much activity as possible for four weeks. She needs to get as much rest as possible and let others do the vacuuming, laundry, and other cleaning chores. She shouldn’t cook meals without help. Someone else needs to lift the heavy pots and pans.
A post-hospital care nurse can make sure your mom lays down and rests as much as needed. As your mom may experience dizziness and even seizures after brain surgery, a nurse is there to monitor her post-surgery recovery and alert the doctor if there are any concerning side effects.
While your mom has to take it easy, she can’t just sit or lie around. She needs to get up and walk every few hours to avoid blood clots. A nurse can help her use a walker or cane if needed while she recovers.
Get your mom’s home stocked with groceries, first aid supplies, and things for her to do. If she enjoys reading, stock up her e-reader or pick up books by her favorite author. If she prefers crosswords, purchase a few puzzle books. Keep her busy so that she’s not dwelling on the pain or fact that she can’t do as much as she wants to do.
Talk to a home health care agency about post-hospital care. You’ll get to ask questions, learn more about the availability of services, and make the necessary arrangements.
If you or an aging loved one are considering Post-Hospital Care in Spencer, NC, please contact the caring staff at Mayfield Home Care Services today. Call (800) 817-1361
Mayfield Home Care Services provides exceptional home care for seniors and families in Charlotte, China Grove, Spencer, Landis, Belmont, Gastonia, Concord, Kannapolis, Indian Trail, Monroe, Rowan County, Gaston County, Cabarrus County, Union County NC.
Family has always been very important to me, my family and coworkers. The number one reason I decided to pursue a career in healthcare isthe love that I have for my family. I watched individuals over the years struggle with so many health issues before passing. I have watched older adults experience signs of dementia, Alzheimer’s and stroke. I have witnessed how difficult it can be to complete simple tasks that we sometimes take for granted. Growing up, I always felt like they were invincible.
As a family member, I know how hard it can be to watch the people you love and admire struggle. It makes you feel helpless and hesitant to help make decisions regarding their care, for fear that you may make the wrong decision along the way.
This is why I am so passionate about our company. I feel like there is a disconnect in the industry. I remain focused on creating a culture within the company that every client will be treated with the same care and compassion that we would want for our own family members and loved ones.
I feel like it is time to raise the standard of what has become the “norm” in the home care industry. Thank you for taking this journey with us. I know things will not always be perfect and that there will be bumps in the road. However, I do believe that if we work together we can overcome any obstacles along the way. I look forward to working with you soon!
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