Your dad is about to undergo oral surgery due to severe gum disease and tooth loss. While this isn’t an uncommon situation, it does require special care during his recovery. Take a closer look at the benefits of home health care services for the week or two that his oral surgeon says it will take for him to recover.
Medications Need Careful Planning
Pain following oral surgery shouldn’t be too extreme, but it’s unlikely he won’t have any pain at all. He might need to use prescription pain relievers for a couple of days. His home health care nurses can track his last dosage and prevent him from taking too many pain meds in the first few days.
His nurse will help wean him off the medications he’s using and switch him to over-the-counter ibuprofen and acetaminophen as soon as possible. That can help prevent your dad from being too reliant on powerful medications that increase his fall risk.
Health Assessments Monitored by Home Health Care Providers
If your dad has chronic health conditions like high blood pressure, some medications can impact that. If he needs pain medications, there is a chance that the medications will impact his blood pressure. His nurse can constantly monitor his blood pressure and pulse and alert his doctors if the readings are abnormal.
His nurse can also assess the healing process and make sure that any incisions or extractions don’t look infected. If there are, the nurse will alert his oral surgeon and discuss options for antibiotics through an IV or oral pill and make sure your dad takes them.
Bleeding May Take a While to Slow Down
Typically, bleeding following a tooth extraction improves during a few hours, but older adults may find they bleed longer than normal. Underlying chronic health conditions can slow healing times.
A home health care nurse can monitor your dad’s bleeding and reapply gauze as needed. The nurse will know if the bleeding is excessive or normal. If it is excessive bleeding, his nurse is there and can discuss the next steps to take. Sometimes, the tannin in a tea bag can help.
His nurse will discuss options with his surgeon and help him follow through with the recommended steps. This might mean arranging to get him to the surgeon’s office again or monitoring the situation after trying other techniques to slow the bleeding.
He May Be Confused and Disoriented
It’s not unusual for older adults to be more confused or disoriented following anesthesia. This may last for days rather than an hour or two. His nurses can monitor how well he’s doing and alert his surgeon if the confusion is worsening rather than slowly improving.
Aging adults may not come out of oral surgery as easily as younger adults. Sometimes, the sedatives and anesthesia can create more disorientation and confusion than expected. This makes it hard for your dad to take care of himself. Home health care is helpful when it comes to your dad’s recovery from oral surgery.
If you or an aging loved one are considering Home Health Care in Lewisville NC please contact the caring staff at Superior Staffing Solutions, LLC today. Call 855-391-9270.
Superior Staffing Solutions, LLC is a Trusted Medical and Non-Medical Home Care Agency in Winston-Salem, Lewisville, Clemmons, Kernersville, Tobaccoville, Highpoint, Lexington, Mooresville, Troutman, Statesville, Bermuda Run, Advance, Wallburg, Midway North Carolina and surrounding areas.
We are led by a registered nurse and we are passionate about providing in-home health care to Winston-Salem, NC and the surrounding areas. When you choose our services, you can rest assured knowing that your loved ones are in great hands. Our certified staff members are trained to provide exceptional care in a nurturing home environment.
We strive to reduce unnecessary hospitalizations or trips to the ER. We encourage patients to follow-up with their PCP for continuous care. 24 hour hotline service to cater calls from patients, families and referral sources including weekends and holidays. Superior Staffing Solutions’ Medical advisor is available for consult.
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