Most people who have ever spent time in a hospital might say that getting discharged is a light at the end of the tunnel. Returning home after a stay in a medical institution, particularly for seniors, is a significant transition and the proper steps must be taken to ensure the patient is truly on their way to recovery. But this can’t be done without open and honest conversations with everyone involved.
1. Evaluation
First is the evaluation. Your doctors, nurses and other medical staff that tended to you during your hospital stay will assess you based on your abilities and your improvement. Whether it was surgery, a slip and fall, or perhaps something devastating like a heart attack or stroke, each hospital stay requires different consideration and recovery. The medical personnel want to make sure, not only that you are fit to go home, but that it will be an environment conducive to your recovery and a space where you can get back to your normal life without significant distraction.
2. Discussion
The discharge discussion will be one of the most significant talks you have, particularly after major surgery or an extended hospital stay. This is your opportunity to ask for an expert opinion, voice your concerns, or simply discuss your feelings. The medical team is likely to look at your condition and overall health before you entered the hospital, where you are physically after your hospital stay, and what your personal health and recovery goals are over the next few months. Coupled with their expert opinion, they can discuss a rehabilitation plan that will help get you to where you want to be and where they’d like to see you.
3. Planning
Planning for your discharge is what will help the transition go smoothly. Use this opportunity to map out the coming days, weeks and months of your recovery. Consider all factors, establish your support system, and put things in place so that you have what you need throughout your recovery.
4. Determining the next steps
Should you go home? Or perhaps be transferred to another medical facility? Considering where to go next can be a tough, but crucial decision. Whether you need a live-in caregiver or the help of a relative, ensure your next steps are attainable and beneficial to your recovery.
5. Referrals
If another medical facility is considered to be a better option than returning home, it’s crucial to find the facility that’s right for you. But don’t just take what’s suggested. Take your time to research the option that is best for you. If it is in fact another medical facility, arrange a phone consultation to decide whether it’s a viable option. Look up places online to see whether you’ll be comfortable there. Remember, this is where you’ll be recovering—you want to feel like you’re at home, even if you’re not.
6. Arranging follow-ups
Follow-up tests and appointments are key to making sure your discharge is going as planned. It’s important that your doctor sees you’re progressing, recovering and readjusting well to life at home. It’s also another opportunity to go back to the discussion step where you can ask for that expert opinion, voice your concerns or discuss your feelings. A lot changes once you’re discharged, and making sure that you’re adjusting well mentally is just as important as seeing progress in your physical recovery.
7. Be careful!
Even when proper steps are followed, there is still much to be on alert for, particularly for senior citizens. Ensure you’re not being pushed out of the hospital prematurely. The idea of “bed blockers” is one that has frequently seen senior citizens be discharged prematurely simply to free up beds for other patients. If you think you or your loved one is being discharged too soon, get multiple expert opinions. And most importantly, don’t leave until you or your loved one feel ready.
