A hospital discharge can happen quickly. Here is how to plan care for a safe return home, what to ask the ward, and how short-term and live-in care can help.
Leaving hospital is good news, but it often happens faster than families expect. A little planning makes the return home safer and less stressful for everyone.
Start planning early. As soon as your loved one is admitted, ask the ward who is coordinating their discharge and when it is likely to happen. Most hospitals have a discharge team who work with social care to plan support at home.
Ask the right questions. What care and support will be needed at home, and for how long? Are there new medicines, and who will manage them? Is any equipment needed, such as a frame, commode or hospital bed? Will there be follow-up appointments, therapy or district nurse visits?
Ask about short-term support. Many people are assessed for their longer-term needs once they are back at home rather than in hospital. Councils also provide reablement and intermediate care, short-term support to help people regain their independence, which is usually free for up to six weeks. Ask the discharge team what has been arranged and what happens when it ends.
Prepare the home. Make sure the heating works, there is food in the fridge and the bed is easy to get in and out of. Clear trip hazards such as loose rugs and trailing cables, and think about a key safe so carers can let themselves in.
Arranging private care quickly. If you want care to start straight away, or you need more support than has been arranged, a private home care provider can help. At Faith’s Walk we can put waking nights, sleepovers or 24-hour live-in care in place so your loved one can come home and recover in familiar surroundings, subject to approval by the hospital discharge team. Live-in care can usually be arranged within 24 hours.
We support people coming home to Surrey, Windsor, Maidenhead, Slough and South Bucks, including from St Peter’s Hospital in Chertsey, Ashford Hospital, Wexham Park Hospital, Frimley Park Hospital and Kingston Hospital.
Review care after the first few weeks. Needs often change as someone recovers. A good care provider will review the care plan regularly and reduce or increase support as needed.
If a discharge is coming up, call us on 01784 697000 (Surrey) or 01628 964300 (Windsor, Maidenhead and Slough) and we will talk you through what we can arrange.
