300 S. Prairieville St
PO Box 991
Athens, TX 75751
Toll Free: 877-596-3500
Phone: 903-677-3500
Fax: 903-677-4700
Office Hours:
M-F 9am - 4pm
Our services may include but are not limited to:
Who is eligible?
All elderly patients who undergo a surgical procedure that requires general anesthesia are eligible for our Health Check recovery at home after surgery due to the increased risk of complications postoperatively.
About 50% of people over age 65 will have surgery at some point in their remaining lifetime. The physiologic changes that occur during the normal aging process places the older adult at increased risk for the development of postoperative complications.
Older adults are often in poor nutritional health as a consequence of dependency or disability, social isolation, and inappropriate or inadequate food and fluid intake. The inadequate intake of nutrients for tissue growth and repair contribute to poor wound healing.
Elderly patients are increasingly susceptible to infections due to declining immune system. Older adults are at greater risk of developing pneumonia and other respiratory complications because of the normal physiological changes that occur with aging. Signs and symptoms of pneumonia postoperatively may not appear for 48–72 hours. (As hospitals are discharging patients earlier or doing same-day procedures, patients may develop respiratory complications after leaving the hospital.)
Through observation and assessment, the home care nurse plays a pivotal role in the prevention and early detection of postoperative complications. The following table describes physiologic changes of aging and postoperative implications:
| Body System | Changes | Postoperative |
| Skin & Connective Tissue | Decreased vascularity Loss of collagen |
Poor wound healing |
| Respiratory | Reduced lung elasticity Weakened intercostal muscles Decreased respiratory clearance |
Ineffective cough Shallow breathing Increased risk for pneumonia |
| Cardiovascular | Reduced cardiac output Reduced blood flow |
Delayed wound healing Increased risk for DVT Altered response to infection |
| GI | Decreased intestinal absorption of nutrients Decreased peristalsis Loss of elasticity of abdominal muscles |
Dehydration and malnutrition Delayed wound healing Paralytic ileus Intestinal obstruction |
| Renal | Decreased glomerular filtration rate Decreased concentrating ability |
Prolonged drug metabolism and clearance |
| Gastric | Diminished blood flow | Prolonged drug metabolism and clearance |
| Immune | Reduced formation of antibodies and lymphocytes Slowed inflammatory response Delayed fever response |
Delayed wound healing Increased risk for infection |
Meeting the special needs of our elderly surgical patients
Our Health Check surgery recovery program is quickly returning patients to their preoperative, optimal, functional level of independence. Our protocols allow patients to recover at home with the reassurance that their postoperative care needs are being met by highly professional, skilled nurses and therapists in accordance with their physician’s orders and nationally recognized standards of care.
Program Benefits
In-home postoperative care and services focused on improving the elderly patient’s recovery are provided by licensed RNs, LVNs, and therapists as needed.