You can play an important role for your loved one during the hospitalization process, providing support and speaking up for their needs. Here’s what to expect when your loved one is hospitalized, how to help, and possible discharge options.
How to Help a Loved One in the Hospital
When your loved one is hospitalized, plan to spend plenty of time with them during their hospital stay. Having trusted family or friends there to serve as an advocate is highly beneficial for any patient.
Additionally, having someone familiar there can help reorient the patient and provide a sense of familiarity. If your loved one gets disoriented at any point during the hospital stay, be prepared to calmly explain where they are at what has happened.
It’s also essential to get to know your hospital care team and establish clear communication. In the hospital, you won’t be working with your loved one’s primary care provider. Instead, the attending physician will make crucial care decisions. You will likely also have a nurse practitioner, nurse manager, and residents as part of the team, with nurses providing 24-hour care.
Many people go to the hospital with little to no warning, meaning they may not have time to assemble the items they need. You can help by creating a care kit with everything your loved one will need for a comfortable stay.
First, assemble any important documents they’ll need for hospital care, such as:
- ID (Driver's License, Passport, etc.)
- Insurance card
- Current medications
- Medical devices like glasses or hearing aids
- Personal care items and toiletries
- Loose, clean clothing
- Comfort items like blankets or pillows
Another effective way to support your loved one is to help them keep track of important information that’s relevant to their future care. “Taking Care of Myself: A Guide For When I Leave The Hospital” is a helpful booklet you can use to note down information like medications, future appointment times, contact information, and recommendations from the doctors so nothing gets overlooked.
How to Advocate For Your Loved One
Hospitals are an overwhelming environment, and it’s important to continue to advocate for your loved one during this challenging time. If your loved one is awake and coherent, defer to them for decisions about their care, and help them communicate their needs.
However, there will be times when your loved one won’t be able to speak up for themselves, which is where you come in. All patients have the right to consent to treatment, but if they are incapable of doing so personally, the hospital will usually turn to their health care proxy, which is often a spouse, adult children, parents, or sibiling.
When possible, communicate with the medical team proactively about your loved one’s care. Ask questions to prevent future confusion, and take notes to keep all relevant information in one place.
If you have concerns about your loved one’s care, don’t be afraid to seek out your hospital’s professional patient advocate or a social worker. They can provide a helpful perspective and facilitate productive communication with the care team. Keep in mind that you also have the right to ask for a second opinion if you’re unsure about a diagnosis. If you go this route, you can put in a request directly through patient services at the hospital.
Hospital Discharge Planning: What to Expect
As your loved one starts to heal, their doctors will assess them to determine whether discharge is safe and appropriate. They will consider several different factors, including their current condition and pain level, their ability to cope with lingering symptoms at home, and the amount of support they have from loved ones.
Many hospitals have discharge specialists on hand to make the process easier. As you prepare to leave the hospital, take notes about medication and other care tips recommended by the doctor, and get contact information for potential follow-ups. It’s likely that you’ll have questions after discharge, so you’ll need to know who to contact.
Understanding Discharge Options
There are several discharge options for older adults who have been in the hospital. These include:
- Discharge home with no professional care services: This option is appropriate for those who have made a full recovery, or those with limited care needs that friends and family can help with.
- Discharge home with professional home health care: In this case, the patient returns home, but health professionals continue to provide part-time services. This option can help patients return to a more comfortable environment without sacrificing care needs. Since in-home care is usually part-time, family members and friends will also need to play a role in ongoing care.
- Discharge to a skilled nursing facility for short-term rehab: In a skilled nursing facility (SNF), nurses provide 24/7 care with doctor supervision. Moving to a SNF for short-term rehab may be a good option if your loved one is expected to make a full recovery, but currently needs intensive care.
- Discharge to an SNF for long-term care: If your loved one is expected to need intensive care for an extended period of time, moving to a SNF can help them get the support they need in a more comfortable environment than the hospital.
- Discharge to acute inpatient rehab: Acute rehabilitation is often necessary for patients who have experienced significant changes in their physical or mental function. Acute rehabilitation is designed to help them regain important skills and function independently again.
- Discharge to long-term acute care hospital: If your loved one has lost physical or mental capabilities, but is unlikely to regain full independence quickly, a long-term acute care hospital can provide the specific support they need.
- Discharge to assisted living: Assisted living facilities are a popular choice for older adults who need support with daily activities, but also want to maintain some independence. However, these facilities don’t provide intensive care.
The goal of each option is for your loved to continue to get the care they need after they leave the hospital. Work with the hospital care team and patient advocates to explore all your options and see what makes sense for your family.
What If I Feel It Is Too Early For My Loved One to Be Discharged?
If you think your loved one is being discharged too early, you have options. It’s possible to appeal and delay the discharge process if you think it’s necessary. This is particularly important if your loved one will continue to require hospital-level care that you can’t provide.
There are two ways to appeal your loved one’s discharge. One option is to file an official appeal through Medicare (if your loved one has it). This needs to be done as quickly as possible — usually by midnight on the same day. If you appeal in time, they will be able to stay in the hospital without cost until the decision is made.
If your loved one does not have Medicare, you can also work with your hospital’s patient advocate to begin an appeal.
