Preparing to leave hospital
If you are supporting someone leaving the hospital, you've come to the right place. Here, we've packaged all the important basics to guide you through.
Below you'll find something to read, a handy checklist of how to prepare, tips for your own wellbeing and how we can support you.
Something to read
You might not want to read everything at once. Simply dip back into this information when you have more time.
Five top tips to making the most out of your pharmacy
Our local pharmacies have a lot of services that can make our lives easier as unpaid carers. So it pays to be aware of what they can do for us once we leave hospital.
Carer's guide to preparedness
If we find that we're often forgetful and our minds are clouded during this process, it may be helpful to take a step back. Here are 13 simple habits to help us stay organised and prepared again.
Things to do
A checklist of things we can do to make sure the days ahead are as easy as possible.
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Update your friends and family
Update friends and family on what is happening. Start to plan how they can help when it's time for the person you are supporting to come home from hospital. Are they able to help you prepare the home for example?
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"It takes a village" - Who else can help us?
There's nothing wrong with asking someone who can help you do something better. Some things to think about are:
- Are you willing and able to provide care?
- Who else can be involved?
- Is there someone who can help with the transportation?
- Do you have everything you need to provide care in the home setting?
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Ask the hospital team the key questions
It's important we leave the hospital with all the information and support put in place for the person we care for. And that it is clear on both sides. To avoid miscommunication, here are some questions to consider:
- How can I be involved in discharge planning?
- What is the discharge process?
- Who can I call if I have any medical questions?
- Who can I call if I need any practical help with care?
- Who will contact me about any equipment needed?
Your wellbeing
When the person we care about has been in hospital for a while, re-adjusting to them coming home can feel both amazing and scary. And sometimes we may not be back to full spirits right away.
How to let go of things we can't control
Sometimes, it can feel like much is out of our control, from hospital discharge dates to our entire schedule. It might be that we have a lot to catch up on when we get back. That's normal. So here are some ways we can let go of things we can't control.
Three quick tips to lift your mood
Our constant worry for the future can strip us from being able to enjoy the present moment. Try out these three simple tops that can help provide some uplift and clarity.
Top tips from carers
"Check the medicines list, will they been given any new medicine before they leave? Are there any to be stopped and what has already been taken on the day they leave hospital?"
"Carers of those with mental health can also have a care package....its not just about those with physical needs or neurological conditions"
"Don't ever be brow beaten into accepting your loved one home, if you honestly don't feel comfortable or confident"
Have a more specific question? Ask our Mobilise Assistant
When the person we care about is in hospital, we may find that we're faced with emotional and practical challenges. The Mobilise Library is filled with carers' wisdom and practical tips to help us support our loved ones.
