How Can Bergen County Families Help a Senior Get Safely From Hospital to Home?
Blog

How Can Bergen County Families Help a Senior Get Safely From Hospital to Home?

Published On
November 4, 2026
Senior-Get-Safely-(1).png


Nearly 20 percent of patients have an adverse event within three weeks of leaving the hospital, and nearly three quarters of those events could have been prevented or lessened, according to the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (AHRQ). Medication problems are the most common one.

For families in Teaneck, Englewood, Fort Lee, Tenafly and across Bergen County, a hospital stay can end quickly, often with new medicines, new equipment and new instructions. This article covers what to ask before discharge, how to keep medicines safe, what the first week at home can look like and where to find help.

Quick answer: Before your loved one leaves, get written instructions, an updated medicine list, follow-up appointment dates and a plan for help at home. In the first week, double-check the medicines, watch for warning signs and keep one list of who to call.

Why is the move from hospital to home a risky time?

Because instructions, medicines and follow-up all change at once. AHRQ reports that nearly 20 percent of Medicare patients are rehospitalized within 30 days, and that nearly 40 percent of patients leave the hospital with test results still pending. A clear plan, shared with the family, helps close those gaps.

What should you ask before your loved one leaves the hospital?

Ask the care team to go through the plan with you and your loved one in plain language. Medicare's discharge planning checklist suggests these questions:

  1. Where will care continue after discharge, and are home health care or other options available?
  2. Which medicines changed during the stay, and which should continue?
  3. When and where are the follow-up appointments?
  4. What equipment is needed, and who arranges delivery and setup?
  5. Which daily tasks, such as bathing, cooking or driving, will need help, and what training does the caregiver need?
  6. Which warning signs mean we should call for help, and who do we call?

Also ask for written discharge instructions that you can read and understand. If you think your loved one is being discharged too soon, Medicare's checklist says you can ask for a fast appeal and should receive a notice explaining how.

How do you keep medicines safe after discharge?

Keep one updated list and use it at every visit. AHRQ calls medication problems the most common complication after discharge. The Medicare checklist suggests listing every prescription, over-the-counter drug, vitamin and herbal supplement, asking which ones to continue and at what dose, and bringing the list to follow-up appointments. If you are the caregiver, fill prescriptions and finish errands before the discharge day.

What can the first week at home look like?

Keep it simple and check in often.

  • Confirm the date and time of the first follow-up appointment, and how your loved one will get there
  • Go over the discharge papers together and use teach-back: ask your loved one, or the nurse, to explain the plan back in their own words
  • Ask who will follow up on any test results that were still pending
  • Keep the warning signs and phone numbers where everyone can see them
  • Watch for changes in breathing, eating, sleep, mood or confusion, and call the doctor if something looks wrong

When is it time to consider extra help at home?

Consider help when your loved one cannot safely manage bathing, meals, medicines or getting around, when a wound or new equipment needs attention, or when the family is stretched thin. Starting support early in the first weeks can make the transition smoother.

How can BrightStar Care of Teaneck help?

We help with the daily routines and the care needs that come with returning home. Our services include companion care, personal care, help with daily activities and medication management, and our team also provides skilled nursing services such as wound care, tube feeding, home infusions and physical therapy. We offer 24-hour care when it is needed, and our Director of Nursing visits the home as part of getting started. All medical decisions stay with your loved one's doctor. Call (201) 483-8490 to talk through what support might look like for your family.

What local resources are available in Bergen County?

Bergen County offers information and counseling for older adults and their caregivers.

  • Bergen County Division of Senior Services, ADRC Information & Assistance, One Bergen County Plaza, 2nd Floor, Hackensack, 201-336-7474, seniors@co.bergen.nj.us (benefits and Medicare counseling, referrals and care management)

  • ADRC toll-free number listed by the New Jersey Division of Aging Services, 1-877-222-3737

  • Medicare, Your Discharge Planning Checklist, a free guide with space for medicines and appointments

Frequently Asked Questions

What should a hospital discharge plan include?
Where your loved one will get care next, the list of medicines to continue, follow-up appointments, equipment, help with daily tasks, warning signs and who to call, all in written instructions you can understand.

Can we ask for a different discharge date?
Medicare's checklist says you can ask for a fast appeal if you think you are being discharged too soon. Ask the hospital for the notice that explains how and who to contact.

How common are problems after leaving the hospital?
AHRQ reports that nearly 20 percent of patients have an adverse event within three weeks of discharge, and that nearly 20 percent of Medicare patients are rehospitalized within 30 days.

Who can help us go over the medicines?
Ask the discharging team and your pharmacist to review the updated list with you, and bring it to every follow-up appointment.

Does BrightStar Care of Teaneck help after a hospital stay?
Yes. We offer companion care, personal care, medication management and skilled nursing services, including 24-hour care. Call (201) 483-8490 to learn more.

Sources