Helping Your Loved One Settle Back Home After Hospital Discharge
If your mum, dad, or grandma has recently been discharged from hospital, you may be feeling a mix of relief and worry. While it’s wonderful to have them back home, ensuring they have the right care and support is essential for their recovery and overall well-being. This is where live-in care can make a real difference, offering personalised support that allows them to heal in the comfort and familiarity of home.
What is Hospital Discharge?
Hospital discharge is the process of transitioning a patient from hospital care back to their home or another care setting. For elderly patients, this process needs to be carefully planned to ensure they receive the right level of support. Without the proper preparation, returning home can be overwhelming, and there is a risk of complications or readmission.
What Will Hospital Staff Do to Prepare a Loved One for Discharge?
Hospitals have their own discharge teams, who manage safe transfers of care for those returning home from hospital.
They’ll follow a procedure called ‘discharge to assess’ to review the level of care a person will need once they’ve left the hospital. While the policies around discharge can differ between hospitals, a discharge planner will usually only release a patient if the following discharge process has happened:
A discharge assessment of their immediate needs has been completed.
- If little or no additional care is needed, this’ll be classed as a minimal discharge or simple discharge. Your loved one will be free to return home.
- If they have ongoing eligible care needs, their discharge or transfer procedure will be what’s called a complex discharge.
A senior member of staff has “medically cleared” them.
- A written short-term care plan has been created for those with specific or ongoing health needs. This will usually involve collaboration between the hospital and local community services.
- The care plan has been implemented, meaning the right level of care has been arranged, either privately or through your local social services. This also includes making any required home adaptations, such as installing ramps or grab rails.
The Challenges of Elderly Discharge from Hospital
Leaving hospital doesn’t always mean your loved one is completely back to full strength. Many elderly patients being discharged from hospital are still in recovery, needing extra help with mobility, medication, and day-to-day tasks. Without the right support, they may struggle at home or even risk readmission. The last thing anyone wants is for them to end up back in hospital because they weren’t able to manage safely on their own.
How Live-In Care Can Help
Live-in care provides round-the-clock assistance from a dedicated carer who moves in to offer support tailored to your loved one’s needs. Unlike short home care visits, which may not be enough, live-in care ensures someone is always there to help with daily activities, provide companionship, and give peace of mind to the whole family.
The Benefits of Live-In Care After a Hospital Stay
Choosing live-in care after hospital discharge can provide essential support for your loved one, ensuring they receive the care and attention needed for a smooth recovery. Here’s how it can help:
- A smooth and stress-free transition: A live-in carer can help with discharge planning from hospital to home for elderly patients, ensuring they settle back into a routine and receive the care they need.
- Support with medication and mobility: Many elderly patients need help managing prescriptions or moving around safely, reducing the risk of falls or complications.
- Lower risk of readmission: Having continuous care at home means any health concerns can be spotted early before they turn into bigger problems.
- Encouraging independence: With the right level of support, your loved one can regain confidence and continue doing things they enjoy, rather than feeling dependent or isolated.
- Peace of mind for you: Knowing that someone is always there to provide care and companionship to your loved can ease your worries and allow you to focus on spending quality time together.
Tips for a Smoother Hospital Discharge
Supporting your loved one’s hospital discharge can feel overwhelming, but taking a few key steps can help make the transition as smooth and stress-free as possible.
- Review their hospital care plan and keep it safe.
- Make a list of questions for hospital staff, doctors, or GP.
- Explore funding options, including adult social care funding and direct payments.
- Plan transport home in advance.
- Create a contingency plan—read our guide here.
Elderly Care After Hospital Discharge and Making the Transition Easier
The key to a successful transition from hospital to home is planning ahead. If you know your loved one will soon be discharged, it’s a good idea to arrange live-in care in advance so that everything is in place when they return. This means less stress for you and a smoother, more comfortable experience for them.
At IP Homecare, we’re here to help make this process as easy as possible. Our friendly and experienced carers provide compassionate, tailored support to help your loved one recover safely at home. If you’d like to find out more about how live-in care could help your family, get in touch with us today.