What can we do now so we don't become 'bed-blockers' in the future.

Moving into appropriate, easier, & perhaps smaller accommodation, can make sense. Plus ensuring sensible and simple things in place like handrails and grab-rails/seats in showers and bathrooms. My MIL had her bath removed and a shower installed in its place (complete with seating and handrails). This was a brilliant move: she was able to shower safely & independently. When MIL became very elderly, her carers could help her easily to have her shower.

M0nica

I doubt the lack of a keysafe would keep someone in hospital, they are so quick and cheap to fit. I fanyone said that, they were just looking fpor excuses.

What we need is a return to convalescent homes, and halfway houses that can look after people on their way home, with fewer medical staff and more care workers and more active work on rehabilitaion.

Hospitals also need to look at themselves and ask why so many older people, who are living at home entirely independently before they need to go into hospital, come out of hospital doubly incontinent, without any muscle tone and needing fulltime care or a lot of home support.

I read a quite shocking piece in the paper this week (I cannot remember which) about hospitals putting in catheters or putting people in nappies because they can't or won't give them bedpans or take them to the loo when they ask. It is easier to just deal with toilet needs when it is convenient for the nurses, rather than maintain an older persons control over their bladder and bowels.

DH spent 8 weeks with a catheter. In his case because he was too ill and barely conscious mostof the time. When he came home, he had little bladder control and it took six months of training himself before he rgained complete control.

It is easy to blame social services etc, but the hospitals also play their part in failing to maintain people's independence.

You are so right MOnica. I know many such cases where people have lost their independence through hospital stays. An acute ward is busy and it’s not the place for rehabilitation once the acute problem has been treated. Hospitals do have rehab wards but I think there is a shortage of capacity.

Convalescent and similar places were closed years back, but surely it is what is needed now, to relieve “bed blocking” and to help elderly back to independence with some good home support.

Riverwalk

The only guaranteed way would be to have loads of money so you can buy your way into a nursing home of your choice.

Who knows what's around the corner health wise - in the meantime I'm endeavouring to stay out of hospital by eating well, staying fit and watching my weight.

Family history makes me a candidate for various ailments which I'm doing my best to avoid.

I'm trying to think about keep independence and not just old people either Riverwalk

M0nica

I doubt the lack of a keysafe would keep someone in hospital, they are so quick and cheap to fit. I fanyone said that, they were just looking fpor excuses.

What we need is a return to convalescent homes, and halfway houses that can look after people on their way home, with fewer medical staff and more care workers and more active work on rehabilitaion.

Hospitals also need to look at themselves and ask why so many older people, who are living at home entirely independently before they need to go into hospital, come out of hospital doubly incontinent, without any muscle tone and needing fulltime care or a lot of home support.

I read a quite shocking piece in the paper this week (I cannot remember which) about hospitals putting in catheters or putting people in nappies because they can't or won't give them bedpans or take them to the loo when they ask. It is easier to just deal with toilet needs when it is convenient for the nurses, rather than maintain an older persons control over their bladder and bowels.

DH spent 8 weeks with a catheter. In his case because he was too ill and barely conscious mostof the time. When he came home, he had little bladder control and it took six months of training himself before he rgained complete control.

It is easy to blame social services etc, but the hospitals also play their part in failing to maintain people's independence.

I doubt the lack of a keysafe would keep someone in hospital, they are so quick and cheap to fit. I fanyone said that, they were just looking fpor excuses.

They were only talking about a couple of days M0nica but you have to have someone to organise and do it so I can imagine it could be that. Even a couple of days here or there adds up in costs.

Oopsadaisy1

Our daughter lives 10 minutes away and has a spare key, there is a spare key hidden in the front garden, (I hope I don’t forget where it is) I also have a key safe but we haven’t fixed it up yet.

But surely bed blocking is more about who will look after you when you get home, having food in the cupboards and fridge and having the heating on if you’ve been in hospital for a while?
That’s assuming you are well enough to even go home, most bed blockers are, I think, waiting for a space in a nursing home.

I'm like you with the key safe, Oopsadaisy. My mother had one; I know how useful they are. It saved us from having the firemen break in, which happened the first time she fell - much cheaper too!

I will have one; I have thought I would since we put Mum's in. It will now be sooner rather than later. But I didn't feel ready. That's why I would like them installed in all new buildings. You don't have to be old to be in the sort of position we have described.

Getting someone available to care, paid for or family, is more and more difficult. I really would like to see more technology used. No one in their 30s, 40s, or 50s is going to want an old-fashioned system; they will want a version of Alexa or her cousins I haven't seen any advertised but we will need them so we can be independent of surgeries (not of GPs). I wonder what technology people are using to help them.

The only guaranteed way would be to have loads of money so you can buy your way into a nursing home of your choice.

Who knows what's around the corner health wise - in the meantime I'm endeavouring to stay out of hospital by eating well, staying fit and watching my weight.

Family history makes me a candidate for various ailments which I'm doing my best to avoid.

I doubt the lack of a keysafe would keep someone in hospital, they are so quick and cheap to fit. I fanyone said that, they were just looking fpor excuses.

What we need is a return to convalescent homes, and halfway houses that can look after people on their way home, with fewer medical staff and more care workers and more active work on rehabilitaion.

Hospitals also need to look at themselves and ask why so many older people, who are living at home entirely independently before they need to go into hospital, come out of hospital doubly incontinent, without any muscle tone and needing fulltime care or a lot of home support.

I read a quite shocking piece in the paper this week (I cannot remember which) about hospitals putting in catheters or putting people in nappies because they can't or won't give them bedpans or take them to the loo when they ask. It is easier to just deal with toilet needs when it is convenient for the nurses, rather than maintain an older persons control over their bladder and bowels.

DH spent 8 weeks with a catheter. In his case because he was too ill and barely conscious mostof the time. When he came home, he had little bladder control and it took six months of training himself before he rgained complete control.

It is easy to blame social services etc, but the hospitals also play their part in failing to maintain people's independence.

Our daughter lives 10 minutes away and has a spare key, there is a spare key hidden in the front garden, (I hope I don’t forget where it is) I also have a key safe but we haven’t fixed it up yet.

But surely bed blocking is more about who will look after you when you get home, having food in the cupboards and fridge and having the heating on if you’ve been in hospital for a while?
That’s assuming you are well enough to even go home, most bed blockers are, I think, waiting for a space in a nursing home.

A keysafe was the first thing I had fitted when DH died, my son ordered it and fitted it. I am lucky I have a side entrance so had it place by back door as I felt being by front door exposed to anyone passing by that there was an older person living in the house. I also got linked up to careline via a pendant which I wear on a chain round my neck. Both these things made me feel much safer as if I was ill or fell I could contact someone for help and that help can get into the house. The jeysafe was most useful when I had HR last summer as the rehabilitation team calling each morning to change compression stockings could gain entry and I didn't have to worry if I was upstairs about rushing to answer the door. Therefore I agree they could help in the case of someone who just needs a small amount of care maybe once or twice a day. That person could be discharged if these things are in place.