Des Moines, IA (PRWEB) January 10, 2013
Once upon a time, doctors made home visits and spent quality time with patients. And as time went by, the focus became less on the patient and more on the insurance coverage, procedures and medications.
But today, that process is evolving again and neighborhood hospitals and healthcare institutions are again recognizing the value of caring more holistically for the entire person, including an understanding of both their physical and emotional needs during a hospital stay and more importantly, during recuperation. In many ways, it’s “back to the future.”
For the millions of aging Americans today, the reality of doctor visits and possible hospitalizations are a reality. Studies show that hospitals and healthcare institutions are now focusing on reducing errors and infections, allowing families to spend time with patients, cutting down length of stay, encouraging safer room configurations, and even thinking about post-discharge care.
One area often overlooked is a better focus on the nutritional needs of patients after they are discharged from the hospital.
According to Dee Sandquist, Registered Dietitian for Mom’s Meals, many seniors are sent home with complicated dietary restrictions. “They are told to ‘eat healthier’ or add certain things to their current diet. But these same seniors are facing the challenges of limited mobility and limited access to fresh foods. Meeting these restrictions and instructions is challenging, to say the least.”
One solution is to provide seniors with home delivered meals, made with fresh ingredients, meeting specific nutritional needs, and focused on particular disease states affecting so many today including diabetes, heart disease, and kidney disease.
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