Prepare to go home after a hospital stay
The week after discharge is the riskiest week. Plan it.
You do not have to remember everything. That is what this list is for.
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Overview
Most readmissions come from confusion at discharge — medicines that conflict, appointments never scheduled, warning signs nobody explained. Twenty minutes of questions before you leave prevents most of it.
What to expect
- Discharge instructions given quickly, often while you are tired
- New prescriptions plus old ones that may have changed
- Follow-up appointments to schedule
- Possible referrals for home health or therapy
Questions to ask
What warning signs mean I should call you, and which mean the ER?
Which of my old medicines should I stop taking?
What can I eat, lift, and do this week?
When can I shower, drive, and go back to work?
In plain language, what is happening and why is it recommended now?
Plain language is your right. Ask again if the answer is technical.
What are my options, including waiting or doing nothing?
How will this change what I can do day to day, and for how long?
What should I do to prepare?
Who do I call with questions, and what number do I use after hours?
What would make you want to see me sooner?
This turns vague worry into a clear trigger for calling.
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For caregivers and family
What caregivers can expect
- More care needed at home than anyone expected
- Sleep, appetite, and mood taking time to return
- Multiple follow-up appointments
How caregivers can help
- Run the medicine schedule for the first week
- Watch for warning signs and act early
- Take one shift off — ask someone else to cover
Questions caregivers should ask
- What does normal recovery look like this week?
- What symptoms mean we should call rather than wait?
- What help are we eligible for at home?
Recovery and what happens next
Today
Safety and supplies first.
- · Set up the rest area
- · Fill prescriptions
- · Confirm who is helping and when
Week 1
The highest-risk week.
- · Follow medicine schedule
- · Attend or confirm follow-up
- · Track temperature, pain, appetite, and sleep
Watch for: Fever, chills, or a wound that becomes red, warm, swollen, or leaks fluid; Pain that keeps getting worse instead of slowly better; New confusion, dizziness, or fainting; Nausea or vomiting that stops you from keeping fluids down
Week 2
Small increases in activity.
- · Walk a little more each day
- · Review what still hurts
- · Restock supplies
Month 1
Rebuilding routine.
- · Discuss driving, work, and lifting
- · Start or continue therapy
- · Review medicines you can stop
Long-term
Strength, stamina, and mood.
- · Set a realistic activity goal
- · Schedule preventive care
- · Ask for help with anxiety or low mood — it is common
Risks and warning signs
Possible risks to ask about
- Every procedure and medicine carries some risk — ask for yours in numbers, not adjectives
- Reactions to medicines, contrast, or anesthesia
- Infection
- Delays or the need for a repeat visit
Warning signs — call your clinician
- · Fever, chills, or a wound that becomes red, warm, swollen, or leaks fluid
- · Pain that keeps getting worse instead of slowly better
- · New confusion, dizziness, or fainting
- · Nausea or vomiting that stops you from keeping fluids down
Red flags — seek emergency care
- · Trouble breathing or shortness of breath at rest
- · Chest pain or pressure
- · Heavy bleeding that will not stop
- · Sudden weakness, facial droop, or trouble speaking
- · Signs of sepsis — fever with fast heart rate, confusion, clammy skin, or a feeling that something is very wrong
In an emergency, call 911. Do not wait for a call back.
Follow-up care
- Confirm every follow-up appointment is on the calendar
- Ask who coordinates care between clinicians
- Review what medicines can stop
Frequently asked questions
Helpful resources
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Prepare Me is educational preparation support from Phoenix Health Compass. It does not diagnose, recommend treatment, or replace the guidance of your clinician. Checklists and notes stay on this device unless you save or share them yourself.