Elderly parent doctor visit checklist after hospital discharge
The first follow-up visit is where the discharge plan meets real life at home. Bring specific notes so the doctor can see what is working, what is confusing, and what still feels unsafe.
Bring to the visit
- Hospital or rehab discharge papers
- Current medication list plus any old list that seems to conflict
- Daily notes from the first days home: pain, sleep, eating, fluids, bathroom, confusion, mobility, and falls or near-falls
- Questions about home health, therapy, equipment, supervision, and follow-up tests
Questions to ask
- Are the discharge medications correct, and should any old medications be stopped?
- Which symptoms are expected during recovery, and which should prompt a same-day call?
- What should family track until the next visit?
- Do we need home health, therapy, equipment, or more supervision?
- Who owns each follow-up appointment, test, or referral?
After the visit
- Update the medication list and remove outdated copies.
- Assign next tasks by name and date.
- Send one concise family update so siblings and caregivers hear the same plan.