Care Compass resource
Preparing for hospital discharge: a caregiver guide
Leaving the hospital can mean keeping track of instructions, follow-up plans, documents, and several people to contact. Use this guide to prepare questions, capture what the care team tells you, and keep the details together for the transition home.
Before the conversation
Start with the questions you still need answered.
Write down what matters most at home and anything that is still unclear. If someone is helping with the handoff, agree on one place to keep notes so everyone can refer to the same plan.
Ask the care team for a plain-language explanation of the main reason for the stay and what happens next. Keep the written discharge summary with your notes, or record where to find it in the patient portal.
Instructions to collect
Record the care team’s words and where to follow up.
Write down the activity, food, wound or device, and other home instructions that apply to this discharge. Ask the care team to clarify anything you do not understand, and note which test results are pending and who will contact you about them.
If medication details are part of the discharge plan, bring the medication containers and paperwork together. The checklist provides space to record the medicine name, dose, timing, purpose, refill plan, and what changed. Ask the care team or a pharmacist to explain any change you do not understand.
Follow-up and support
Make the next steps easy to find.
Ask which appointments or referrals are needed, who will schedule them, and what timeframe the care team has set. Note which regular providers should receive an update, along with any transportation, interpreter, caregiver, or other support that needs to be arranged.
Keep a short contact list with each person’s name or role, phone number or portal, and when the care team says to contact them. Ask which number to use during office hours and after hours if a question comes up.
Documents and home setup
Keep the handoff details together.
Store the discharge summary, medication list, test results, and follow-up instructions together. Keep insurance cards, identification, and any home-care paperwork easy to find, and note how to request or share records if another provider needs them.
Before leaving, note any equipment or supplies that are needed and the pickup or delivery plan given to you. Write down the home-support arrangements discussed by the care team, including who knows the plan and when they will check in.
Questions to bring
Leave room for anything that is still uncertain.
- Which changes should prompt a call, and which number should I use after hours?
- What should I watch for with the medication, equipment, or care instructions I was given?
- Who should I contact if I cannot get a prescription, supply, appointment, or needed support?
- What is the plan for pending tests, referrals, or records?