The first days at home after a hospital stay are a vulnerable time. The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) reports that nearly 1 in 5 Medicare patients are readmitted to the hospital within 30 days of discharge. Many of these readmissions are preventable.

This checklist helps families prepare for a loved one's return home and reduce the risk of complications.

Before Your Loved One Comes Home

Understand the Discharge Plan

Before leaving the hospital, make sure you understand:

✓[ ] Why your loved one was in the hospital and what changed
✓[ ] What medications they should be taking (and which to stop)
✓[ ] What follow-up appointments are needed and when
✓[ ] What warning signs to watch for
✓[ ] What activities are restricted (driving, lifting, stairs)
✓[ ] Whether home health services have been ordered (nursing, physical therapy)
✓[ ] What equipment is needed at home (walker, hospital bed, oxygen)

Ask the discharge planner or nurse to go through the discharge instructions with you. Take notes. Do not leave until you understand everything.

Prepare the Home

✓[ ] Make the bed with clean sheets
✓[ ] Clear a path from the bed to the bathroom
✓[ ] Remove trip hazards: rugs, cords, clutter
✓[ ] Install night lights along the path to the bathroom
✓[ ] Move frequently used items to waist height
✓[ ] If stairs are required, ensure handrails are secure
✓[ ] Consider a bedside commode if the bathroom is far
✓[ ] Set up any medical equipment that was ordered

For a detailed home safety guide, see our room-by-room home safety checklist.

Gather Supplies

✓[ ] All prescribed medications (pick up from pharmacy before coming home)
✓[ ] A pill organizer if your loved one takes multiple medications
✓[ ] Easy-to-prepare food and drinks
✓[ ] Comfortable, loose clothing
✓[ ] A thermometer
✓[ ] Any wound care supplies recommended by the hospital
✓[ ] A notepad for tracking medications, symptoms, and questions

Arrange Support

✓[ ] Who will be with your loved one for the first 24 to 48 hours?
✓[ ] Who will handle meals, medications, and personal care?
✓[ ] Are family members available to help, or is professional care needed?
✓[ ] If professional care is needed, has it been arranged?

The First 24 Hours at Home

Medications

✓[ ] Review all medications with the discharge instructions
✓[ ] Confirm which old medications to continue and which to stop
✓[ ] Set up a medication schedule
✓[ ] Watch for side effects, especially dizziness, drowsiness, or allergic reactions
✓[ ] Do not skip doses. If your loved one misses a dose, call the pharmacist

Medication errors are one of the most common causes of readmission. The hospital may have changed medications, stopped some, or added new ones. Make sure you know exactly what your loved one should be taking.

Hydration and Nutrition

✓[ ] Offer water regularly. Dehydration is common after hospitalization
✓[ ] Encourage your loved one to eat, even if appetite is low
✓[ ] Have easy-to-digest food available: soup, crackers, toast, bananas
✓[ ] Avoid heavy, greasy, or very salty food for the first few days

Rest and Activity

✓[ ] Allow plenty of rest. Your loved one will be more tired than expected
✓[ ] Encourage short walks around the house if approved by the doctor
✓[ ] Do not push too hard. Recovery takes time
✓[ ] Follow activity restrictions from the hospital (no lifting, no stairs, etc.)

Monitoring

✓[ ] Take vital signs if instructed (temperature, blood pressure, etc.)
✓[ ] Watch for warning signs (see below)
✓[ ] Keep a log of how your loved one is feeling, what they eat, and any symptoms
✓[ ] Note any changes in mood, cognition, or physical condition

Warning Signs to Watch For

Call the doctor or 911 immediately if your loved one experiences:

Call 911

✓Difficulty breathing or shortness of breath
✓Chest pain or pressure
✓Signs of stroke: face drooping, arm weakness, speech difficulty
✓Unresponsiveness or severe confusion
✓Severe bleeding
✓Fainting

Call the Doctor

✓Fever of 101 degrees or higher
✓Increased pain or new pain
✓Redness, swelling, or drainage from a wound or incision
✓Nausea or vomiting that prevents keeping medications down
✓Signs of dehydration: dark urine, dizziness, dry mouth
✓New or worsening confusion
✓Dizziness or lightheadedness
✓Swelling in the legs or feet
✓Irregular heartbeat
✓Any symptom that concerns you

When in doubt, call. It is better to call the doctor and be told everything is fine than to wait and miss something serious.

Follow-Up Appointments

✓[ ] Schedule all follow-up appointments within the recommended timeframe
✓[ ] Bring the discharge instructions, medication list, and your symptom log
✓[ ] Bring a list of questions
✓[ ] Arrange transportation to appointments
✓[ ] Consider having a family member or caregiver accompany your loved one

See our article on a caregiver's guide to medical appointments for more.

When to Consider In-Home Care

The first days at home are the most critical. If family members cannot be present around the clock, in-home care can help. A caregiver can:

✓Help with personal care (bathing, dressing, toileting)
✓Prepare meals and encourage hydration
✓Provide medication reminders
✓Help with mobility and transfers
✓Watch for warning signs
✓Provide transportation to follow-up appointments
✓Give family caregivers a chance to rest

For more on this, see our article on how in-home care supports recovery after hospital discharge.

Preventing Readmission

The best way to prevent readmission is to follow the discharge plan, attend follow-up appointments, take medications correctly, and watch for warning signs. A caregiver can help with all of these.

The Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (AHRQ) recommends that families:

✓Understand the discharge instructions before leaving the hospital
✓Follow up with the primary care doctor within 7 days of discharge
✓Take medications exactly as prescribed
✓Know the warning signs and who to call

A Final Note

Coming home from the hospital is a transition, not the end of recovery. The first few days set the tone for the rest of the healing process. Preparation, attention, and support make a significant difference in how well your loved one recovers and whether they avoid a return to the hospital.

If you would like help caring for a loved one after a hospital stay, Healthy at Home offers a free care assessment. We can help you plan for the transition and provide the support your loved one needs.

Coming Home From the Hospital: A Family Caregiver Checklist