Often, I pick up the phone, and there is panic on the other side of the line.

“They told us mom was going to be discharged on Tuesday, but now they are sending her home TODAY!!  What should we do?”
“They are saying dad isn’t progressing in therapy and the insurance won’t pay anymore so he has to leave. What do we do now?”
“Dad is being discharged home and mom has told the staff she can take care of him.  But mom needs nursing care, too!  How do we make this work?”

When a perennial enters a skilled nursing facility or hospital, families think they have plenty of time to make a long term plan for care.  Only to have their world turned upside-down when the staff changes plans, often without telling families until the last minute.

This leaves families little time to think, must less think carefully, about the best course of action.

How can you avoid finding yourself in this position?

First, recognize that any plan shared with you by a hospital or care facility is subject to change, no matter how certain they sound when they give you the discharge date.

Many decisions at these facilities are influenced by factors that consistently change, so you and your family should prepare for every possibility.

What does this mean for you?

  • Start planning for their discharge. The moment your loved one enters the hospital or care facility, start planning for her to leave.  Might she be sent home?  If so, what changes to the house might be needed and what services (e.g., home care, care management) would be useful?  If a care facility is likely, which ones are closest to your house?  What are their reviews like?
  • Research your options.  Everyone wants to go back home as soon as possible, but that isn’t always the best choice. Is there a great community nearby that can provide the 24/7 care dad needs in the short term?
  • Have honest conversations. If dealing with both parents, have honest conversations about the level of care one perennial can offer the other.  Too often, perennials stubbornly insist they can care for each other, when most need some level of care themselves. What services could be brought in to help them both?
  • Expect the unexpected call. The staff at the hospital said mom would probably go home in a week?  Don’t sit back and relax thinking you have plenty of time.  Prepare as if that release is coming tomorrow and be ready to drop everything when the call comes.
  • Enlist help immediately.  Professional care managers who know how the healthcare system works and what resources are available can save you HOURS of time and energy.  Contact them when your perennial enters the facility so that they can help you prepare for what is to come, and advocate for you when issues with your care facility arise.

Nothing can fully prepare you for the shock when discharge dates are changed at the last minute.  But these suggestions can help you get the best care for your perennial whenever that discharge occurs.

Do you have a story about an unexpected discharge from the hospital? How did you handle it? Tell us about it in the comments below.