Care process
Hospital discharge
Hospital discharge is when a patient leaves the hospital to go home or to another care setting. The hospital team gives instructions, medicine lists and follow-up plans. Families should prepare before discharge day so care at home can start smoothly.
Why it matters for your family
Discharge often comes fast. Medicare's discharge checklist suggests asking where care will happen, whether home health is an option, whether equipment is needed and who will arrange it. Ask for written instructions and an updated drug list. A caregiver should learn any tasks that need special skills before leaving. A common mistake is to arrive home with no one to help for bathing, meals and rides. Medicare does not pay for ongoing non-medical care at home, so families may need to arrange it. Ask the discharge planner early. A home safety check before discharge can prevent a fall. HomeCare.com caregivers do non-medical tasks only.
Source: medicare.gov
Read more: What is Home Care? How to Benefit from These Services?
Related terms
- Discharge planningDischarge planning is the process a hospital, nursing home or other facility uses to prepare a patient to leave.
- Transitional careTransitional care is support that helps a person move safely from one care setting to another, such as from hospital to home.
- Post-surgery home carePost-surgery home care is help at home during recovery from an operation.
- Care planA care plan is a written plan that lists a person's needs, goals, tasks, schedule and who does what.
- Medicare home health benefitThe Medicare home health benefit pays for part-time or intermittent skilled care at home.
- Home safety assessmentA home safety assessment is a room-by-room check of a home for hazards that could cause falls or injuries.
