This article is general information, not medical advice. Always follow the instructions given by your loved one’s doctors and the hospital discharge team.
Hearing that a loved one is ready to leave the hospital is good news. It can also feel overwhelming. There are instructions to follow, medications to sort out, and a home that may need to change a little before the first night back. Families on Long Island’s East End often tell us they wish they had a simple list to work from.
Below is a general checklist to help you think through the discharge process. Every situation is different, so use it as a starting point and ask the hospital team about anything that does not fit your family’s needs.
Before You Leave the Hospital
The most useful time to ask questions is before you walk out the door. If possible, have a family member with your loved one when the discharge instructions are explained, so two people hear the same information. Consider asking:
- What should we watch for in the first days at home, and who should we call if something changes?
- What activity is okay, and what should be avoided for now?
- Are there changes to diet, bathing, or moving around the house?
- When are the follow-up appointments, and how will we get there?
Write the answers down, and ask for the instructions in writing. It is much easier to rely on a page than on memory after a long, tiring day.
Medications
Medication changes are common after a hospital stay. A medicine may be new, stopped, or taken at a different dose than before. Ask the hospital team to go over the full medication list with you, and compare it with what your loved one was taking at home. Make sure prescriptions are filled before or right after arriving home, and keep one up-to-date list where everyone helping can see it. If anything is unclear, your doctor or pharmacist is the right person to ask.
Getting the Home Ready
A few simple preparations can make the first night easier and safer.
- Clear walkways of loose rugs, cords, and clutter.
- Make sure lighting is good in hallways, the bathroom, and on stairs, including at night.
- Set up a comfortable place to rest close to the bathroom if stairs are a concern.
- Keep the phone, medications, water, and any needed equipment within easy reach.
- Stock the kitchen with easy meals that fit any diet instructions.
If falls are a worry, our guide to preventing falls at home has more general ideas.
Equipment and Supplies
Some people go home needing equipment such as a walker, a shower chair, or other supplies. Ask the hospital team what has been recommended, who arranges it, and whether it will be in place when you arrive. Finding out on the first evening that something is missing is a stressful way to learn.
Who Will Help in the First Days?
This is the question families most often overlook. The first days at home can include help with moving around safely, getting to the bathroom, preparing meals, keeping track of medications as directed, and simply having someone nearby to notice changes. Family members often step in at first, and many of them are doing so while also working or caring for children.
Decide ahead of time who is available, and be honest about how long they can keep it up. If the plan depends on one exhausted person, it may help to add support. Our article on preventing caregiver burnout and our post on respite care at home speak to this directly.
Choosing the Right Kind of Help
Not all help at home looks the same. Some people need a companion or caregiver for day-to-day tasks. Others may benefit from a nurse in the home. If you are not sure which fits, our guide to home care, private duty nursing, and home health care explains the differences in plain language. We also wrote about coming home after surgery, which may be useful if a procedure led to the hospital stay.
If your family has a long-term care insurance policy, it is worth reading it or calling the insurer to understand how it works. We explain the general idea in how to pay for home care with long-term care insurance. Baylin Home Care is private pay.
A Simple Day-of-Discharge Reminder List
- Written discharge instructions and a medication list in hand
- Prescriptions filled or a plan to fill them today
- Follow-up appointments written down, with transportation planned
- Needed equipment confirmed
- Home walkways, lighting, and bathroom ready
- A clear plan for who is helping tonight, tomorrow, and next week
- Phone numbers for the doctor and the hospital team where everyone can find them
Talk With Baylin Home Care
Baylin Home Care is a New York State licensed agency serving Southampton, East Hampton, Bridgehampton, Sag Harbor, and the rest of Long Island’s East End. If a hospital discharge is coming up and you would like to talk through what help at home could look like, call us at 631-283-3033 or reach out through our contact page. You can also read how care starts to see what to expect. There is no pressure and no obligation, just a conversation.
This post is for general information only and is not a substitute for advice from your loved one’s doctor or care team.