Helping a loved one transition home after a hospital stay or rehabilitation can be one of the most challenging and emotional aspects of aging. Whether the result of a fall, stroke, surgery or illness, these events can diminish a senior’s confidence, disrupt their routine and leave their adult children scrambling to plan for what comes next.
At Senior Helpers Boston and South Shore, we specialize in return to home care for seniors in Boston and the surrounding area that bridges the gap between discharge and stabilization so that they can continue to age in place with comfort, autonomy and dignity.
What Happens After a Hospital or Rehab Stay?
While leaving the hospital or rehabilitation facility is a major relief, it’s only the beginning of the recovery process.
Seniors returning home face a wide range of challenges, such as:
- Weakened mobility or stamina
- Medication changes and complex regimens
- Risk of re-injury or re-hospitalization
- Difficulty with bathing, dressing and meal prep
- Confusion about care instructions and follow-up appointments
Meanwhile, their adult children are often left trying to coordinate care, make the home safe and fill in any gaps – in addition to balancing careers, families and other responsibilities. It's no surprise that many adult children in this position feel overwhelmed. That’s why transitional support is so critical in those first few weeks.
Recovery Care Designed to Keep Seniors Safe and Supported
Our Return HOME™ program offers structured, nurse-led recovery care designed specifically for this transitional period. Our proprietary LIFE Profile™ assessment is at the center of our process, which reviews factors related to safety, independence, medical condition management, burden of care, quality of life and more. This tool helps us pinpoint areas where your loved one needs support as well as the right kind of care to address them.
The Return to HOME™ program can encompass:
- Personalized Care Planning: Based on 225+ risk factors, with input from your hospital care team and family
- Ongoing Care Coordination: We update you and adapt the plan as recovery progresses
- Help With Appointments: Reminders and transportation to follow-up visits
- Medication Support: Timely reminders and pharmacy pickups to keep recovery on track
- Meal Prep and Grocery Help: Ensuring nutritional needs are met, including special diets
- Hands-On Help at Home: Bathing, dressing, toileting and mobility assistance as needed
- Companionship and Encouragement: Friendly, qualified and carefully vetted Certified Nursing Assistants (CNAs) and Home Health Aides (HHAs) who build confidence and promote healing
What Adult Children Can Do During the Transition
If you're supporting a parent who is about to be or has just been discharged from a Boston-area hospital or rehab, here are a few important tips:
- Don’t wait to start helping: Many families wait until their loved one is already home to begin thinking about care. But falls, confusion and missed medications often happen within the first few days or weeks. Call us before discharge so we can start planning.
- Be realistic about your availability: You may want to be the primary caregiver, but even the most loving families can’t do it all. We’re here to fill in the gaps and bring professional support when you need it.
- Ask about the discharge plan: Will someone review medications with you? Are there new physical therapy routines to follow? Who's responsible for follow-up visits? If you're unsure, we’ll help you get the answers.
- Anticipate emerging challenges: Recovery isn’t linear. Setbacks happen, especially when seniors try to do too much too fast. That’s why daily check-ins and trained caregiver support can make such a difference in preventing re-hospitalization.
Your Bridge to a Safer Recovery
Senior Helpers Boston and South Shore has helped countless local families make the adjustment from hospital or rehab to home with confidence. We understand the nuances of transitional care for seniors in Boston – and we’re ready to support your loved one with compassion, clinical insight and practical solutions.
If your family member is about to be discharged, or if you’re currently managing post-hospital care on your own, reach out to our team today. Let’s build a plan return to home care plan helps your parent heal safely, age confidently and stay exactly where they want to be.
Call us at 617-500-6999 or contact us using the form here on our website to get started.