Discharge planning usually starts far too late. The moment a discharge date is mentioned, the home should start changing.
Clear the path from the door to the bed and bathroom. Remove loose rugs, extension cords and low furniture. Add lighting at every transition point.
Set up a single medication station with the discharge list, a weekly organizer and written instructions in the family's preferred language.
Confirm equipment before discharge, not after: walker, commode, shower chair, hospital bed and oxygen all have separate authorization timelines.
Schedule the follow-up appointment before leaving the hospital, and confirm who is providing transportation.
Finally, decide who is in the home for the first 72 hours. That single decision correlates more strongly with a successful recovery than nearly anything else on this list.
Finally, decide who is in the home for the first 72 hours. That single decision correlates more strongly with a successful recovery than nearly anything else on this list.