GET THE DETAILS BEFORE DISCHARGE OF A LOVED ONE

Sometimes the words “they can go home now” are a double edged sword. It is extremely stressful when a loved one is hospitalized, but families are not always ready to welcome a loved one home upon discharge – often there are questions to be asked, proper preparations to be made, and a complicated transition to arrange for.

There are many important things family members need to know when a loved one is being discharged from the hospital, whether their stay was for treatment or surgery. Here are the steps you need to follow when headed home from the hospital for the best possible outcome:

1. Locate the doctor and ask your questions BEFORE you leave the hospital! If you need to speak with the doctor regarding discharge orders, care plan at home, symptoms to look for, medication side effects, or administering treatments, follow up, etc., don’t wait till you get home. If you can’t speak with them in person, then do so by phone.
2. Make sure you know everything you need to know about medications. Have prescription doses been increased? Have certain medications been replaced by others? Will the new drugs create a toxic interaction with another medication? What side effects should you look for? How should the medicines be taken, and when can you expect them to work, should also be on the list of questions to ask. Remember to mention if your loved one has a hard time remembering to take their meds or tends to slack off after a few days and not take the full dose for the time required.
3. Don’t agree to unrealistic expectations of hospital staff. If you know your loved one won’t obey doctor’s orders or abide by the advice of the nurse, speak up! Hospital staff doesn’t know your loved one’s personality, impairments, living situation, or life style. If they live alone, have a hard time being independent and aren’t able to care for themselves, or won’t realistically take the recommendations of the doctor, discuss alternatives and options.
4. Be clear about any limitations there are, especially be clear if you or other family members are not able to provide post-hospital care at the level needed. It doesn’t matter if it is time, distance, work, child care, you are also ill, etc., if no one is able to take responsibility for the transition back home, and the doctor may order a different plan of care, in-home care, or rehab.

Remember your loved one will be exhausted (you will be too!). There will be prescriptions to get from the drug store, perhaps a special diet to prepare, medical equipment to be ordered, follow up appointments to make, help with hygiene needed, and so much more to do! If you feel overwhelmed or live far away from a loved one, or have time constraints due to your job, don’t be afraid to ask for help. Visiting Angels has a program called “Ready, Set, Go Home,” which may be the perfect solution for the family and their loved ones, post discharge from the hospital. The details can be found HERE.

Till Next Time!

Irv Seldin, JD, Owner and CEO, Visiting Angels of the Palm Beaches

This article is not intended as medical, legal, or financial advice.