What to do when your parent is discharged from hospital — the complete caregiver checklist

A hospital discharge is one of the most chaotic moments in a caregiver's life. Below is the complete checklist FeatherKeep recommends — broken into four stages. You can also use the interactive version at /discharge-checklist, which saves your progress and exports as a printable PDF to bring to the hospital.

Stage 1 — While your parent is in hospital

• Ask the doctor for a written diagnosis and treatment plan
• Get the name and direct number of the discharge coordinator
• Ask what medications will be needed at home and get prescriptions in advance
• Ask what medical equipment will be needed — walker, wheelchair, hospital bed, oxygen
• Ask about follow-up appointments and book them before discharge
• Ask the nurse to show you any procedures you will need to do at home — wound care, injections, tube feeding
• Update the FeatherKeep emergency profile with any new conditions or medications
• Notify family members of the expected discharge date using the care summary share button

Stage 2 — 48 hours before discharge

• Confirm the discharge date and time in writing
• Arrange transport home — ambulance if needed, confirm with insurer
• Prepare the home — clear pathways, install grab rails if needed, move bedroom to ground floor if mobility is affected
• Stock medications at home before discharge day
• Arrange the first home care visit if professional help is coming in
• Confirm someone will be home to receive them

Stage 3 — Discharge day

• Get a complete written discharge summary from the hospital
• Get a medication list — every drug, every dosage — and add it to FeatherKeep immediately
• Get the names and numbers of every specialist involved in their care
• Ask what warning signs to watch for in the first 48 hours
• Ask when to call the GP vs when to go back to emergency
• Get any wound care or procedure instructions in writing

Stage 4 — First week home

• Schedule a GP follow-up within 7 days of discharge
• Watch for signs of infection, confusion, or deterioration
• Log all new medications in FeatherKeep with refill dates set
• Update the emergency profile with the discharge summary
• Post a care update to share with family members
• Check what government respite support is available if you need help

You may qualify for additional government respite or carer support — FeatherKeep does not assess eligibility. Always confirm with a qualified accountant or benefits adviser before applying.