Category: Quick Guide / Caregiving

⚡ What to Do After a Hospital Stay

The first few days after a hospital stay can be confusing. The person may return home with new medications, activity restrictions, follow-up appointments, medical equipment, and instructions from several providers.

Start by making sure the person can be cared for safely at home. Then review the discharge instructions, resolve medication questions, and arrange the required follow-up care.

Start Here

Before leaving the hospital—or as soon as possible after arriving home—make sure you know:

• Why the person was hospitalized
• What condition was treated
• What still needs attention
• Which medications should be taken
• Which previous medications were stopped
• What symptoms to watch for
• Who to call with questions
• When follow-up appointments are needed
• Whether tests or procedures are scheduled
• What help the person needs at home

Do not rely on memory. Keep the written discharge instructions where caregivers can find them.

Call 911 If the Person:

• Has difficulty breathing
• Has severe chest pain
• Is unconscious or cannot be awakened
• Shows signs of a stroke
• Is bleeding heavily
• Has a severe allergic reaction
• Has a seizure
• Suddenly collapses
• Becomes severely or suddenly confused
• May harm themselves or someone else
• Develops another symptom identified in the discharge instructions as an emergency

Do not drive the person to the hospital if emergency medical care may be needed. Call 911 and follow the dispatcher’s instructions.

1. Review the Discharge Instructions

Read every page of the discharge paperwork.

Look for:

• Diagnosis
• Treatment provided
• Medication changes
• Wound-care instructions
• Diet instructions
• Activity restrictions
• Medical-equipment instructions
• Symptoms to monitor
• Emergency warning signs
• Follow-up appointments
• Tests that still need to be completed
• Pending test results
• Contact information

Circle or highlight anything that requires action.

If the instructions are missing, incomplete, or confusing, contact the hospital’s discharge team or the appropriate healthcare provider.

2. Confirm That Home Is Safe

Before the person settles in, check:

• Can they enter the home safely?
• Can they use the stairs?
• Can they get in and out of bed?
• Can they reach the bathroom?
• Can they use the toilet safely?
• Can they bathe or wash safely?
• Can they prepare or receive meals?
• Can they take medications correctly?
• Can they be left alone?
• Is required medical equipment ready?
• Is someone available to help?

Clear floors and walkways, improve lighting, and move commonly used items within easy reach.

Arrange additional help if the person cannot safely manage essential activities.

3. Compare Every Medication List

Hospital stays often result in medication changes.

Gather:

• The hospital discharge medication list
• The medication list used before hospitalization
• All prescription containers
• Over-the-counter medicines
• Vitamins and supplements
• Medications prescribed by specialists

For each medication, confirm:

• Whether it should be continued
• Whether it was stopped
• Whether the dosage changed
• When the next dose is due
• What it is for
• Whether it should be taken with food
• Whether a prescription was sent
• Which pharmacy received it

Do not continue using an old medication list without comparing it with the discharge instructions.

Medication discrepancies can occur during transitions between care settings. Contact the hospital, prescribing provider, or pharmacist before giving a medication if instructions conflict or remain unclear.

4. Fill Prescriptions Promptly

Confirm that:

• The pharmacy received every prescription
• The medication is available
• Insurance approved it
• Someone can pick it up
• Delivery is arranged if needed
• The first dose will not be missed
• The person can afford the medication
• Special storage is available

If a medication is unavailable or unaffordable, contact the prescribing provider or pharmacist. Do not substitute another person’s medication or change the dosage to make the supply last longer.

Update the person’s medication list after the new prescriptions are received.

5. Schedule Follow-Up Appointments

The discharge paperwork may require appointments with:

• Primary-care provider
• Specialist
• Surgeon
• Physical therapist
• Occupational therapist
• Home-health nurse
• Wound-care provider
• Laboratory
• Imaging center
• Rehabilitation service

For each appointment, record:

• Provider
• Date and time
• Location
• Purpose
• Transportation plan
• Records or test results needed
• Questions to ask

Call promptly if the paperwork says an appointment should occur within a specific number of days.

6. Confirm Home Services

Find out whether the hospital ordered:

• Home nursing
• Physical therapy
• Occupational therapy
• Speech therapy
• Personal-care assistance
• Medical social work
• Meal delivery
• Medical equipment
• Oxygen
• Wound-care supplies
• Rehabilitation

Record:

• Organization name
• Telephone number
• Services ordered
• Expected start date
• Insurance coverage
• Person to contact if no one arrives

Do not assume the service has been scheduled merely because it appears in the discharge plan. Call if the agency has not contacted you within the expected timeframe.

7. Set Up Medical Equipment

The person may need:

• Walker or cane
• Wheelchair
• Shower chair
• Commode
• Hospital bed
• Oxygen equipment
• CPAP equipment
• Blood-pressure monitor
• Blood glucose equipment
• Wound-care supplies
• Other medical devices

Before using equipment:

• Read the instructions
• Confirm that it is assembled correctly
• Check that it fits the person
• Learn how to clean it
• Learn which problems require service
• Record the supplier’s telephone number
• Ask for training when needed

Do not improvise with equipment that is damaged, incorrectly sized, or unfamiliar.

Helpful Resources: Browse Post-Hospital Support for products, equipment, services, or supplies related to this section.

8. Follow Wound and Personal-Care Instructions

If the person has a wound, incision, catheter, drain, or other care need, confirm:

• What supplies are needed
• How often care should be provided
• Whether the area can get wet
• What normal healing should look like
• What changes require a call
• Who is responsible for providing care

Contact the appropriate provider if you notice concerns identified in the discharge instructions, such as:

• Increasing redness
• Swelling
• Warmth
• Drainage
• Bleeding
• Worsening pain
• Fever
• An opening incision
• A device that moves or stops working

Do not perform a medical task unless you understand the instructions and can do it safely.

Helpful Resources: Browse Medical Supply Organization for products, equipment, services, or supplies related to this section.

9. Follow Activity and Diet Instructions

The person may have temporary restrictions involving:

• Walking
• Stairs
• Lifting
• Driving
• Bathing
• Exercise
• Returning to work
• Food and liquids
• Alcohol
• Use of medical equipment

Write the restrictions where the person and other caregivers can see them.

Do not assume that “rest” means remaining in bed continuously. Follow the specific instructions provided by the healthcare team.

Contact the provider if the person cannot follow the recommended diet, activity, or fluid plan.

10. Watch for Changes

Monitor the person according to the discharge instructions.

Possible areas to track include:

• Pain
• Temperature
• Breathing
• Swelling
• Wound appearance
• Appetite
• Fluid intake
• Bathroom habits
• Alertness
• Confusion
• Strength
• Balance
• Ability to walk
• Medication side effects
• Blood pressure, weight, or blood glucose when directed

Write down what you observe and when it happened.

Contact the provider promptly if symptoms worsen, new symptoms appear, or the person is not recovering as expected.

11. Prevent Falls

A person may be weaker, more tired, confused, or unsteady after hospitalization.

Reduce fall risks by:

• Clearing floors and walkways
• Removing loose rugs
• Improving lighting
• Creating a clear route to the bathroom
• Keeping mobility equipment nearby
• Encouraging secure, nonslip footwear
• Helping with stairs
• Making sure glasses and hearing aids are available
• Following transfer and mobility instructions
• Avoiding rushing

Ask for a physical or occupational therapy evaluation if the person cannot move safely through the home.

12. Support Recovery

Help the person follow the discharge plan by:

• Creating a medication schedule
• Preparing appropriate meals
• Encouraging fluids when permitted
• Allowing time for rest
• Supporting approved activity
• Keeping appointments organized
• Providing reassurance
• Helping them stay connected with others
• Watching for mood or behavior changes

Recovery may take time. Avoid pressuring the person to resume activities before the healthcare team says it is safe.

13. Make a Follow-Up Call

A follow-up call can identify problems before they become more serious.

Contact the appropriate provider if:

• Medication instructions are unclear
• Prescriptions were not received
• Appointments cannot be scheduled
• Home services have not started
• Equipment is missing
• Symptoms are worsening
• The person cannot follow the care plan
• The caregiver cannot provide the required care

The Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality recommends reviewing health status, medications, appointments, home services, and what to do if a problem occurs during post-discharge follow-up. AHRQ post-discharge guidance

14. Recognize When More Help Is Needed

Additional support may be necessary if the person:

• Cannot be left alone
• Needs help getting out of bed or using the bathroom
• Cannot take medications safely
• Is falling or nearly falling
• Is not eating or drinking adequately
• Is increasingly confused
• Cannot manage wound or equipment care
• Misses essential appointments
• Requires care the caregiver was not trained to provide

Contact the healthcare team, hospital social worker, home-care agency, or appropriate community organization to discuss additional support.

If the current arrangement is unsafe, do not wait for the situation to become an emergency.

After-Hospital Information Sheet

Hospital stay

• Hospital:
• Admission date:
• Discharge date:
• Reason for hospitalization:
• Main diagnosis:

Questions or problems

• Hospital contact:
• Telephone number:
• Primary-care provider:
• Telephone number:

Follow-up

• Appointment:
• Date:
• Location:
• Transportation:

Medications

• New medications:
• Changed medications:
• Stopped medications:
• Next doses due:

Home care

• Agency:
• Service:
• Start date:
• Telephone number:

Medical equipment

• Equipment:
• Supplier:
• Telephone number:

Warning signs

• Call the provider if:
• Seek emergency help if:

Quick Checklist

• Read the discharge instructions
• Confirm that the home is safe
• Determine whether the person can be left alone
• Compare old and new medication lists
• Resolve medication questions
• Fill prescriptions
• Schedule follow-up appointments
• Confirm home services
• Set up required medical equipment
• Review wound, diet, and activity instructions
• Know which warning signs require help
• Monitor and record important changes
• Reduce fall risks
• Arrange transportation and caregiving help
• Contact the healthcare team if the plan cannot be followed safely

Remember

Hospital discharge is the beginning of the next stage of care—not the end of treatment.

Make sure the person understands the plan, has the correct medications, receives the ordered services, and knows who to call when a problem occurs.

This guide provides general education and does not replace individualized care from a qualified healthcare or mental health professional.