What happens when a parent is discharged from hospital?

Post-Hospitalisation Care

When a parent is discharged from hospital, families are often handed a sheaf of papers, a bag of medications, and sent home with no clear plan. Here is what you need to know and do.

In the hospital: before discharge

Ask to speak with the medical social worker — every public hospital has one. They can: - Assess your parent's care needs post-discharge - Refer to AIC-subsidised home care services - Help with financial assistance applications - Connect you with the Transitional Care Programme if needed

Ask the ward team: - What is the diagnosis and what does it mean for daily life? - What medications are prescribed and what are the side effects? - Are there activities they should avoid? - What are the warning signs to watch for at home? - What follow-up appointments are needed?

After discharge: first 72 hours

• Medication reconciliation: Make sure you understand every medication — dose, timing, what it's for
• Home safety check: Is there a fall risk? Are there grab rails, non-slip mats, a raised toilet seat?
• Wound care: If there are wounds, make sure you know how to care for them or have a nurse visit arranged

Home care options

1. 1.AIC Home Medical Service — nurse visits for wound care and medication management
2. 2.AIC Home Personal Care — assistance with bathing, dressing, feeding
3. 3.Private home nursing agencies — faster to set up, less subsidised
4. 4.Foreign domestic worker — if family needs live-in support

Transitional Care Programme

For complex post-discharge needs, AIC's Transitional Care Programme provides intensive support for the first few months at home. Ask the hospital medical social worker about eligibility.