What you should know after a loved one is discharged from the hospital. It can be chaotic when a loved one is leaving the hospital or a rehab facility, that is why you need to know exactly what to ask before you take your loved one home. Don’t become overwhelmed, take a deep breath and write/print out the questions below to ensure you are asking everything you need to know.
Questions to ask before leaving the hospital or rehabilitation facility:
- Does my love one require any therapy once home?
- What services will health insurance or Medicare pay for?
- Are there exercises that he/she need to do, how often?
- Will my loved one be safe at home alone or will someone need to be with them 24 hours a day?
- What is the average period of recovery time?
- Will my loved one need assistance with personal hygiene or dressing?
- Will my loved one need help with cooking and housework?
- Are there any diet restrictions?
- Will my loved one be safe at home upon discharge or will someone need to be with them 24 hours a day?
- Do I need to have any special mobility equipment?
- What side effects or additional issues should we watch for?
- What do we do if there are any potential side effects or problems?
- Who do we call if there is an emergency or a problem arises?
- What does each medication do and why is it needed?
- Are all new medications safe to take with his/her current medications?
- What are the medication dosages and side effects?
- Who do we call if we have questions about medical equipment, such as oxygen or a walker?
These are all questions that you need to ask the doctor or nurse before leaving the hospital or facility. Knowing how to care for your loved one will make their transition home easier.
Need assistance in transitioning your loved one back home?
Our transition team can provide a safe and smooth transition. We will meet with the discharge planner/transition coordinator, have all of the need questions answered then craft a customized care plan to ensure a speedy recovery. Call today (480) 618-5995