Your mom or dad is about to be discharged from the hospital and a ton of questions are rolling around in your head: Will he or she be able to stay home alone? If not, how much care will be needed and for how long? Is any medical equipment required? How much will insurance cover? How many new prescriptions will there be? How am I going to get him or her to follow-up appointments? Where do I start?
The best place to start is a discussion with your loved one's doctor or discharge coordinator to create a plan of care. From there you can determine all of the details you need to help make the transition from hospital to home a smooth one.
The links below will direct you to a number of articles, videos and specialized web materials to help you navigate a loved one's return home from the hospital and help prevent any issues that might result in readmission.
- Returning Home Resources (PDF 258k)
- Senior Emergency Kit (PDF 1.5MB)
- Questions to Ask When Interviewing a Home Healthcare Worker
- How to Select an In-Home Care Provider
- Navigating the Senior Care Maze - Family Caregiver Webinar
- Alzheimer's and Hospitalization: How to Ensure a Safe Hospital Visit for Someone with Dementia
Download the Canadian Edition of the Returning Home: Transitional Care Guide
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