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YOU ARE FORGING AHEAD, taking the time to address your medical issue with a hospital procedure. Whether you are going in for gallbladder removal surgery, hernia repair or a hip replacement, taking steps to ensure that you are prepared for every part of the process will be critical to your recovery. STEP ONE: SET YOUR HEALTH UP FOR SUCCESS Focus on establishing healthy habits to ensure that your immune system is in top fighting form before your hospital stay. For example, if you have diabetes, you want to ensure that your blood glucose is at a healthy, steady level to support healing. If you are a smoker, take steps to quit, especially if you are about to have surgery. Nicotine can constrict blood vessels and disrupt oxygen delivery throughout the body. Surgical incisions depend on oxygen to heal. Aerobic exercise, which strengthens muscles and improves balance, is a positive practice to add to your pre- procedure to-do list. Try running, swimming or walking to benefit your respiratory function, boost bone health and tone muscles. STEP TWO: NAME YOUR HOME CARE TEAM Caring for your health after hospitaliza- tion requires paying attention to factors that you may take for granted during your everyday life. "Part of being prepared for hospital- ization is to be prepared for post-hospital- ization," says Steven Silber, D.O., chief medical officer at New York Methodist Hospital. "It will be easier for you to re- turn home if you understand what care you will need and how your family or caretakers can provide it after leaving the hospital. We want the transition of care upon discharge to be seamless, and that means that you should prepare to recover at home with the support you need." For instance, how will you get home? Can you handle the stairs to your walk- up? Will you need help with bathing when you first get home? Is going to the To ensure that a planned hospital stay and at-home recovery go as smoothly as possible, older adults should prepare in advance. store a task that you can manage on your own during the recovery period? You should also consider whether you will be able to manage the tasks related to postoperative care like taking medications as prescribed or changing bandages and dressings. "It is important to understand that your level of function may temporarily change after a hospital stay," says Joanne Russo-Lagnese, R.N., director of patient care transition at NYM. "There may be a loss of independence for a time. This can be the case no matter what your education level, culture or income. Having someone around to help you for a while after your hospitalization can be crucial to the healing process." Addressing this fact, the New York State legislature recently implemented the Caregiver Advise, Record, Enable (CARE) Act. The law requires hospitals to record the name of the patient's designated caregiver, let the caregiver know when the patient will be discharged and provide the caregiver with instructions for home care. The designated caregiver may be a family member, friend or professional care provider and should be named prior to the patient's discharge from the hospital following a procedure. Instructions may include information on wound care, medication administration, and assistance with activities of daily living, such as picking up prescriptions, shopping and banking. STEP THREE: SET UP YOUR SPACE Before leaving home for the hospital, take precautions to ensure that your living space is as accessible and safe as possible. "Sometimes, patients don't realize that when they come home from the hospital, they will not be in perfect shape," Dr. Silber says. "If you need a procedure that might cause you to have difficulty moving, take proactive measures to make your home slip-proof and fall-proof so that it's ready for your return." Consider these precautions: If you have area rugs, secure them to the floor with carpet tape or roll them up and store them until your recovery is complete. Install handrails in the shower and/or place a waterproof chair in the shower or tub to sit on while you bathe. Reduce slipperiness by pasting decals to the floor of your bathtub. Make sure stairways and hallways are well-lit. Avoid a trip hazard by using low- tack tape to temporarily secure loose electrical wires to the floor. STEP FOUR: TWEAK YOUR ROUTINE If mobility or fatigue is an issue once you are released from the hospital, set up a grocery delivery service or recruit a family member, neighbor or friend to pick up your groceries until you feel strong enough to make the trip without wearing yourself out. Remind yourself to take the right doses of medications at the appropriate times by setting timers and utilizing a pill box that is separated according to days of the week and times of day. Do not be afraid to ask for help. Don't be too hard on yourself. Give your body the time it needs to heal. S U R R O U N D Y O U R S E L F W I T H L O V E Having a support network can help you emotionally and physically as you regain your strength after a hospitalization. According to certain studies, orthopedic surgery patients with strong social support and mental health were more likely to experience higher functional improvement after surgery. Find friends and family to help you stay motivated. Spend time together. Do things that you enjoy that are not too demanding. Reading, listening to music and cuddling with a favorite pet can be comforting and healing. thrive P H Y S I C I A N RE F E R R A L / / 718 . 49 9. C A RE 25