What questions to ask before a v ill patient is discharged from hospital?

[Imsixtyandiknowit]

Assume 1st d3cision would be care at home v hospice?
Think thry will want care at home - but what questions should we be asking in advance at the hospital?
All new to me so grateful for any advice, thanks

I would start with have their care needs been assessed? If not why not?

Will a care package be arranged or will family just be expected to get on with it?
Will any special equipment be needed, how is this arranged?
Will any medication on a “just in case” basis be supplied?
Who gets called if there is an issue outside of usual working hours? Hospice at home team, OOH GP, 111

You should get a care package. It seems to vary from a month to six weeks. All my late husband's equipment was delivered and set up several weeks before he came home. Carers four times a day initially but I cut that to morning and evening, then just mornings. They came nice and early.

We had Just in Case medication and an OOH number for nurses. I used them and they used JIC four or five times. I felt very well supported after struggling for three and a half years. DH was home for almost three weeks before he died.

Here, hospice beds have been drastically cut, and if you are taking too long to die you will be moved to a care home specialising in palliative care.

Also ask for your relation to be put on the Continuing Healthcare (CHC) Fast Track Pathway, which funds care for the dying. Once DH came home I logged everything in case it was needed to support a case.

Thanks you 3 - very helpful
I feel completely out of my depth

Have a look here

https://www.ageuk.org.uk/information-advice/health-wellbeing/health-services/leaving-hospital/

It was all new for me too. Overwhelming when you are so concerned about the person you love and the certainty that you are going to lose them in the near future.

There should be a specialist palliative care nurse at the hospital who can listen and advise. Also the local Carers UK county branch may be of help.

Please just ask me as I've been through all this very recently - DH only died two months ago. If I can help I will.

I'm so sorry@muddyford- that must have been incredibly tough for you. Thsnk you for taking the time to reply x

Fast track is if the prognosis is short weeks. Palliative support is still available regardless from local hospice/marie curie or similar as well as district nurses

And if the person ends up in a specialist home CHCFT funding can help. Many hospices have had a massive reduction in income and have pulled services. People who would have been in a hospice a decade ago are now in a care home if they can't go to their own home.

You also need to take into account home safety if the person is mobile/confused/aggravated.
My family member had a brain tumour so was very confused and kept trying to get up to leave the ward. The hospital had concerns that our home was not secure so recommended a care home, in the end we went straight to hospice care as it all happened so quickly.

Make sure you contact any related charities for support also x

Happy to chat via pm if you need support x it’s shit and sometimes it’s nice to talk to someone x