In-home Caregivers near Rancho Santa Fe Must Be Extra Vigilant During Weekend ER Visits

Of course, there is no such thing as a good time for a head injury. But some times may be worse than others, according to a study that some curious researchers conducted recently. The researchers speculated that seniors who visited a hospital emergency room with a traumatic brain injury on the weekend faced a greater risk than those that came in during the week.

Family members of seniors and in-home caregivers in Rancho Santa Fe and elsewhere will be interested to learn the results of the study.

Critical Injuries

When a senior is taken to the emergency room, timely care is critical. The elderly are more susceptible than younger people to permanent injury or even death if they do not receive immediate care after a fall, especially falls involving a blow to the head. This study showed that, taking all factors into account, seniors are about 14 percent more likely to pass away at the hospital if they arrive on a weekend, as opposed to when they arrive on a weekday.

Possible Reasons

The most obvious reason for the higher risk, and one that further studies promise to look into, is the difference in staffing at hospitals on weekends. Care for traumatic brain injuries clearly requires special training, and those experts are often high-ranking doctors that enjoy weekends off. While they may be on call, it takes precious time for them to travel to the hospital to care for a brain injury patient.

How San Diego County Caregivers Can Help

Reducing falls is a primary factor in avoiding brain injuries, whether on the weekend or during the week. In-home caregivers in San Diego County and elsewhere provide seniors with much-needed supervision while family members are busy with other tasks, reducing the risk that a senior will fall and suffer a serious injury. Even if an accident does happen, a caregiver can provide first responder care and get emergency help right away, saving valuable time.

Originally posted 2012-09-13 10:30:54.