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My parent was just discharged from the hospital. What should I do?

Get the written discharge instructions and a current medication list, make sure follow-up appointments are booked, set up the home and the first week of help, and agree on a check-in plan. Ask the hospital’s discharge planner or social worker about home care and equipment. Call the doctor or the hospital if anything in the instructions is unclear.

Updated October 2026.

The short version

Get the discharge papers and a medication list that shows what changed.
Book follow-up appointments and arrange rides.
Ask about home health help and equipment before leaving.
Make the home safe and stocked for the first week.
Plan daily check-ins and know when to call the doctor.

Before or on the day they leave

Written instructions: diagnosis, activity limits, diet, wound or device care, and warning signs.
Medications: a current list, what is new, what changed, and what to stop. Ask the nurse or pharmacist to go through it.
Follow-ups: dates for the doctor and any tests, and who to call with questions.
Services: ask the discharge planner or social worker about home health, therapy, and equipment such as a walker or shower seat.

Set up the first week

Stock easy food and any new supplies, and arrange meals if cooking is hard. See local services for older adults living alone.
Clear walkways and check lighting. The days after a hospital stay can carry a higher fall risk. See home changes to make first.
Fill the pill organizer together and set reminders. See helping a parent take medications.
Decide who visits or calls each day, and share the schedule.

Keep everyone on the same page

Hospital stays produce a lot of information. Keep the discharge notes, questions and visit schedule in one shared place. With KinectedCare, the CareTeam shares notes and a CareLog, and care coordination is free. Your parent can press HELP on their phone or watch to alert everyone at once.¹

When to call the doctor

Call the doctor or the hospital’s contact number if you see any of the warning signs on the discharge papers, new confusion, worsening pain or symptoms, or trouble with medications. If someone may be seriously hurt or in danger, call local emergency services.

Questions people ask

What should I ask the hospital before my parent goes home?

Ask for written instructions, a medication list with changes, follow-up dates, warning signs to watch for, and whether home health, therapy or equipment is needed. Ask who to call after hours.

Is my parent safe to be alone after discharge?

It depends on their condition and the instructions. Ask the care team directly, and plan check-ins and help for the first days either way.

Who can help at home?

Ask the hospital social worker or discharge planner, your parent’s doctor, and the local Area Agency on Aging about home health and other services.

How can the family keep track of everything?

Use one shared place for discharge notes, appointments and who is doing what. A CareTeam in KinectedCare is free to start.

Does KinectedCare replace emergency services?

No. KinectedCare is not a medical device or an emergency service. If someone may be hurt, call local emergency services first.

Keep reading

Sources

National Institute on Aging: caregiving resources. nia.nih.gov/health/caregiving
Eldercare Locator (U.S. Administration for Community Living): find local services for older adults. eldercare.acl.gov

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