Hazards of Hospitalization of Older Adults
It might be thought that helping older adults to get to the hospital is as simple as dropping them to a healthcare facility and allowing the hospital staff to care for them. For many older adults, hospitalization leads to functional decline despite the cure of the condition in which they were admitted. In most cases, older adults who get hospitalized do not become independent upon discharge (Creditor, 1993). In most cases, the decline in functionality is not attributed to the progression of the problem for which they were admitted. For instance, if the patient is hospitalized because of an illness such as pneumonia or hip fracture, the patient may return home in a premorbid functional condition. Adverse drug interaction is considered the number one cause of hospital-acquired illness for older adults. It is also worth noting that the elderly population is vulnerable to injuries and illnesses that are not directly related to the one they were hospitalized. Normal aging is linked with transformations that increase the vulnerability to several stresses.
Some of the potential hazards of hospitalization include delirium, medication side effects, immobility, pressure ulcers, malnutrition, medical procedures, and pre-and post-postoperative periods. For instance, older adults are prone to malnutrition since many of them may like the hospital-provided foods. Additionally, the elderly population may have delirium which could be caused by a combination of factors such as infection, surgery, dehydration, medications such as sedatives and painkillers, and isolation (Creditor, 1993). Additionally, if a patient cannot reposition him/herself, the patient may be at risk of contracting pressure ulcers. The introduction of new medications in the body may lead to a severe side effect. Older patients are also at a higher risk of falls, especially if they are disoriented or sedated.
Healthcare organizations need to ensure that the hazards of hospitalization are significantly minimized. One of the strategies that can be implemented is by making the inpatient wards just like home. The older population performs better if some of their sense of familiarity is maintained. This means to bring the home experience to their hospital room. This may include bringing photos of family, providing a cozy comforter, or a clock to help track time. The hospital may also consider finding strategies to prevent bedsores like turning the patient regularly. Hazards of hospitalization can be minimized by monitoring the meals (Creditor, 1993). In some instances, the patient may have difficulties eating hence needing assistance. Proper hygiene by hospital staff may reduce the chances of contracting hospital-acquired infections.