While trying to do her laundry, your mom misjudged the stairs and fell. She ended up with a broken collarbone and hit her head. It was determined that she’s not eating as well as she should be, and that osteopenia played a part in the fracture. She’ll be okay, but her doctors recommend arranging post-hospital care services to support her for the next month or two. What is post-hospital care? What services is your mom most likely to need?

She Cannot Lift Anything

The collarbone or clavicle is the small bone that connects the sternum to the shoulder. It’s one of the most common fractures, but it’s also one of the hardest to recover from. It can take upwards of three months for the bone to heal. During this time, your mom needs to keep from using or moving her arm or shoulder more than her doctor recommends.

For the first few days, your mom will be told to keep her fingers, wrist, and arm stable. She’ll wear a sling that restricts movement. This limits what she can do for housework. She cannot lift a laundry basket, boxes that arrive in the mail or through a delivery service, a heavy pot from the stove, or a casserole dish from the oven.

It’s going to be helpful to have a family caregiver or post-hospital care aide available to help your mom with household cleaning, laundry, and meal preparation. If she needs to go shopping, she needs someone available to put items in the cart and carry the bags.

It Can Be Hard to Sleep

If your mom sleeps on the side that was fractured, she’s going to find it hard to sleep. This may trigger insomnia. It helps to have someone there to talk to if she is up in the middle of the night. Her caregiver can help her get settled in a recliner and have pillows available to support the arm and shoulder that’s in a sling.

She Can’t Drive

Pain management is essential as a clavicle fracture can be painful. Your mom will be told to use over-the-counter NSAID medications and, possibly, prescription pain relievers. When she’s taking these medications, she shouldn’t drive. She can’t drive well with only one arm anyway, so she’ll need a driver until her bone has healed.

Make sure your mom has someone to drive her to her appointments, bring her shopping, and help her run errands. She can have a caregiver drive her around town, accompany her to appointments or when shopping, and bring her back home.

Once your mom is home, make sure she has the support of post-hospital care aides to ensure she’s eating properly, drinking enough fluids, and avoiding overexertion. Talk to a post-hospital care specialist to learn more.

Home Care Matters Provides Award-Winning, Trusted Home Care in Bibb, Butts, Crawford, Henry, Houston, Jones, Lamar, Monroe, Spalding, and Upson Counties. Call today: (478)-994-9535.

We serve the towns of Forsyth, Macon, McDonough, Griffin, Jonesboro, Roberta, Barnesville, Gray, Thomaston, and Jackson.

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Valerie Darling

Founder, Owner at Home Care Matters

Valerie was born in Miami, FL and after a few family moves, grew up locally in the Marietta, GA area.Valerie is the oldest of 4 (3 younger brothers).She is married and has one child.Valerie is the Founder, Owner and CEO of Home Care Matters.Valerie’s mom, Dee, is the inspiration and primary driver as the how and why the business was born.Valerie says, “My mom is never far from our thoughts.Mom was an integral part of developing and starting HCM before she passed away.Our goal is to stay true to her memory and continue to honor her with the love, values, and ethics she taught us.”

Valerie has the unique experience with home care as she has experienced it from both ends of the spectrum, as a caregiver and as needing care herself as a cancer survivor. Valerie says, “Taking care of someone you love is a physically, mentally and demanding labor of love.Taking care of my mom was the hardest thing I have ever done. It has given me an insight and perspective not many people understand unless you are doing it or have done it.I loved taking care of my mom.I love helping others take care of their love ones too.And now that I’ve been sick, it’s given me a whole new level of empathy and understanding for those who are sick and need help.”

Valerie’s schedule varies daily, but she loves visiting with our clients, families, caregivers, our network partners and being in the office.Says Valerie, “Every day is different, but I wake up excited about what we do, inspired by our team, clients and caregivers.I strive to be a resource to the community.I love my team and I love what we do every day. I like to think my mom would be proud.”

You can reach Valerie by email (Valerie@homecarematters.com) or in our office (770.965.4004).

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