Hospital Discharge Planning

 

A hospital stay may happen for a variety of reasons. It can happen for those living at home and those residing in long-term care facilities. When a person is "released" from the hospital, there are a number of things to consider. They are different for people living at home versus those whose home is within a facility. Usually, hospitals will have a person called a discharge planner who is available to help you understand care needs and available options.

Discharge planners may come from a variety of backgrounds. They will have had various degrees of education and/or training related to their task. They may have a very full schedule as hospitals cut back to reduce costs. They are available to help you while the person is receiving care in the hospital. After discharge, the caregiver and or others will be responsible for resolving any care and/or financial needs. All these factors point to the prudence of being an informed "consumer".

There are now online resources to help you understand the process - what it is and what it is not. In every case, it is best for caregivers to be directly involved in care planning and decision making for the care recipient from the beginning of the hospital stay. Understand the need for the hospital stay, the diagnosis, the treatment, the implications, who will provide the care and their qualifications, the after-treatment needs, the long-term implications, and what community support may be available. Ask questions. Be an advocate. Know your rights as a consumer including your right to appeal a discharge.

Checklists have been developed to help you. The hospitalization of a family member can be an emotional time. Having a written checklist to help you know what questions to ask and what you might need to think about will help.

 

If you need more information on admissions, discharge, and planning for emergency stays in the hospital, the United Hospital Fund of NY created Next Step in Care in cooperation with health care providers, including hospitals, nursing homes, home care agencies, and family caregivers. They offer a variety of checklists and short guides to help you with transitioning from the hospital to home and back.

 

Other Resources:

 

After discharge and if your family member resides at home, you may find that you need various in-home services. Your local aging agency's Information & Referral Specialist and/or Caregiver Specialist would be an excellent resource for you. If you are unsure of what local agency in your area serves seniors, contact your Area Agency on Aging.

After discharge and if your family member went to the hospital from a long-term care facility, you may find that the facility cannot or will not take the person back as a resident. Should this happen, contact your local long-term care Ombudsman. If you are unsure of how to do that, contact your Area Agency on Aging.

 

 

 

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