Getting you home checklist

As you prepare to leave hospital, here are some points to consider, please do share this with your friend, family or carer to help you leave hospital. If you are worried or confused by anything mentioned below, please ask your health care team.

• Safety – Is your home a safe place for your recovery?
  Think about any stairs, steps, or other mobility challenges inside your home, the discharge team can help you plan for how you will deal with them and arrange for things to be put in place for when you get home. Will family, friends or carer be there to assist you when you get home?
• Transportation – How will you get home from the hospital?
  Plan your transportation home before it’s time to leave. Can a family member, friend, or carer come and collect you? If not, the discharge team can help you plan how you get home, or to another care setting.
• Food – Do you have food and other necessities at home?
  While you’re recovering, doing errands may be especially difficult. Try not to do everything yourself. Speak to friends or family about what they can do to support you. There are services that can be arranged, such as meals on wheels, to help you recover at home.
• Medication – Has there has been any change to your medications while you’ve been in hospital?
  It’s really important to know what medication you are on and any changes to dosages before you head home. We will make sure that when you leave hospital you have the medicine you need, as well as a letter to give to your GP explaining the change and your continued needs.
• Doctor’s Appointments – What is your follow-up care?
  Before you leave hospital, you will have a conversation with your health team to explain next steps in your medical care, if you want a friend, family member or carer to be included in these conversations, we can look to arrange this over the phone. If you need any follow up appointments with your GP or with any community services, this will be discussed and arranged for you. Be sure to write down the important information, or ask a loved one to take notes on your behalf.
• Community Care – What is your follow-up care?
  Our NHS Community Services across Sussex have a range of skilled nursing, physical therapy and other related medical services you can receive at home. We will discuss with you what is needed and arrange to have any community services in place, before you leave hospital.
• Equipment – Do you need any medical equipment at home?
  Will you need a shower chair, a walker, and/or handrails? Your discharge team will liaise with your health team, which will include a Social Worker, together your health and care team will look at what you need to get you home and discuss with you what we can arrange to have in place.
• Daily Routines – What changes or adjustments will you need to make?
  Make sure you are clear on post-hospital changes you might need to make to you daily routine, such as medication changes, dietary restrictions, or activities you should avoid. In addition, take note of any activities you need to add to your daily routines such as exercises or physical therapy. Also, managing a household after a being in hospital can be especially difficult. Especially if you live alone, bringing in temporary home care can take stress off you. There are voluntary services who can help you with meal preparation, personal care, housekeeping, and transportation. Being in hospital can be disorienting and it is common to require some help managing all your care needs while you get back on your feet.