Hospital Stays and the Effect on Seniors

Hospital stays may be necessary from time to time. When a senior spends a few nights or weeks at a hospital, there is going to be a physical effect seen. There may be all sorts of reasons as to why they are in the hospital. As such, the hospital effects can vary dramatically. Understanding what they are will make it easier to be prepared for them.

Loss of Muscle

Often, seniors lose a lot of muscle when they are in the hospital. They are focused more on the healing process than working out. They may be confined to a bed because of having wires hooked up. They cannot go for their usual walk and even if they do have PT, it isn’t enough.

The moment a senior leaves the hospital, the physical effect will be even more obvious. They may not have the leg muscles to walk for extended periods. They may also not have enough arm strength to pull themselves up as needed.

Bed Sores

Another thing to be aware of is the presence of bedsores. Even in the best hospitals, these occur. It happens because the nurses aren’t moving the patient’s around as much as they should be. Sometimes, patients aren’t even aware of the sores forming until they start to become painful. If you are caring for a senior, you may want to conduct your own visual inspections to prevent bedsores from occurring.

Tired, Worn Out Appearance

Hospitals are for treatment as well as for getting better. They are not known for being the best places to get a lot of sleep. Depending upon the procedure being done, nurses may even be told to wake the patient in the middle of the night for status checks. As a result, the physical effect is that the senior is going to be overtired. They may have a tired, worn out appearance. They may also look considerably paler because of not being able to get out into the sun.

If you are visiting, find out if you are able to take your loved one outside for a little bit. The sun and the vitamin D may be what their body needs in order to get a temporary pick me up.

The physical effect of hospital stays can be significant. This is when it might be time to explore senior care for your loved one. Contact us at Mayberry Gardens for more information.