Coming Home From Hospital: A Family Discharge Checklist

How do you prepare for a parent coming home from hospital?

Hospital discharges are often arranged at short notice, sometimes within a day. The calmest approach is to know in advance what needs to be in place: the right medication, any equipment, and support for the first days at home. This checklist walks through each step, from questions for the ward to settling in safely.

You do not have to organise it all yourself. The hospital discharge team, your GP and a home care provider can each take on part of it.

Before discharge: what to ask the ward

A few clear questions to the ward or discharge team make the move home much smoother:

• What is the discharge plan, and what support has already been arranged?
• What medication is needed, and how and when should it be taken?
• Are any aids or equipment needed at home, such as a frame, raised toilet seat or grab rails?
• What follow-up appointments or district nurse visits are booked?
• What signs would mean we should call the GP or 111, and who do we contact out of hours?

Getting the home ready

A little preparation makes the first day home safer and less stressful:

• Clear walkways of rugs, cables and clutter to lower the risk of a fall.
• Make the bed, a chair and the bathroom easy to reach, ideally on one level for the first days.
• Stock the fridge and cupboards with easy, familiar meals.
• Turn the heating on ahead of time so the house is warm on arrival.
• If carers will visit, arrange a key safe so they can let themselves in.

Arranging support for the first days

The first week home is when most families need an extra pair of hands. Short visits for washing, dressing, meals and medication, or live-in support for closer cover, can bridge the gap while someone finds their feet. Our hospital-to-home support is built for exactly this, and can often start within a few days.

Medication and follow-up

Check what medication is being sent home, how long the supply lasts, and how to get more from your GP or pharmacy when it runs out, and ask for a written list of what each medicine is and when to take it. Book the GP follow-up early, and ask the pharmacist if anything is unclear, as they can often explain doses and order repeats. Keeping one up-to-date medication list avoids confusion between the hospital, GP and any carers.

Watch for setbacks in the first weeks

It is common to need more help than expected after a hospital stay, and recovery rarely runs in a straight line. Tell the GP, or call 111, if you notice new confusion, a reluctance to eat or drink, increasing pain, or unsteadiness and falls. Catching a setback early often keeps someone safely at home.

How we help people settle back home

We support families across Croydon and Bromley through the first days and weeks after hospital, with practical help, companionship and support that rebuilds confidence and routine. Everything starts with a free home visit, and where a discharge is moving quickly we work alongside the discharge team so no one waits at home without support.