There is nothing quite like sleeping in your own bed after a hospital stay to make you grateful for good health. Unfortunately, sometimes it can be short lived. About 14 percent of recently discharged patients get readmitted to the hospital in any given month.* Among the most common causes are blood infections, heart failure and complications from diabetes. 

The good news: Many of these readmissions can be avoided, says Karen Curtiss, a board-certified patient advocate and executive director of The Care Partner Project in Chicago. Here’s how to work with your care team and loved ones to increase your odds of a full recovery at home.* 

What to do when you check in to the hospital 

Believe it or not, you should start planning your discharge as soon as you enter the hospital or set the date for a planned admission, says Curtiss. She notes that post-discharge care for some daily living activities can be expected and made in advance.  

If possible, you or a loved one should ask to meet with a discharge planner on your first day. That will give you more time to prepare. Some questions you may want to ask include: 

• What home safety equipment will I need after my stay? 
   
• Will a home health aide be needed? 
   
• Will any skilled care be needed? Examples include physical therapy, occupational therapy and speech therapy. 
   
• Will I need any medical equipment or supplies? If so, where can I get them? 
   
• Will I benefit from at-home electronic monitoring equipment? (This type of equipment can send health information directly to your doctor.) 

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What to do before you leave the hospital 

On the day of your discharge, try to have at least one family member or friend with you. “There’s so much confusing information being thrown at you. You really want to make sure that you have an extra pair of eyes, ears and hands,” says Curtiss. “Make sure that you understand all the discharge and medication instructions, and that any appointments for follow-up testing or care don’t fall through the cracks.”  

Ideally, someone with you should take notes, or record the conversation on a cell phone. Just be sure to ask the medical provider first. “You can explain that you don’t want to bother the doctor later with a phone call in case you miss an important detail,” says Curtiss.  

Now that you’re ready to go home, here are some more questions you’ll want to ask the discharge planner: 

• When will my hospital stay records be sent to my primary care provider? 
   
• What follow-up appointments will I need? 
   
• Do I have any driving or activity restrictions? 
   
• What medications were given to me on the last day? At what time? And at what dose? 
   
• Are there certain signs or symptoms I should watch for that could signal I need to call my doctor right away? 
   
• Are there any specific groceries I should buy or food items I should avoid? 

It’s also very important to have a thorough medication record, which can help guide your drug schedule at home. “Oftentimes, patients are given a medication dose before they leave the hospital. But they may take another dose too soon by mistake because they’re in the habit of taking all their pills in the evening,” says Curtiss. “That can send you right back to the hospital.”  

Want support paying for healthy foods?

Aetna® Dual Eligible Special Needs Plan, or D-SNP, members get an Aetna Medicare Extra Benefits Card with a monthly allowance called a Wallet to spend on healthy foods. Learn more about our plans today.    

What to do once you’re back at home 

Going through your front door may feel like home sweet home. But there may be some new challenges to face. It can be hard to do some daily living activities on your own, says Curtiss, such as bathing or cooking for yourself. “And you may have picked up an infection at the hospital that isn’t apparent until you get home,” says Curtiss.  

To ease your transition, it can help to give some tasks to others if possible. Curtiss suggests that you ask family or friends to give you a hand with the following: 

• Phone tasks. Ask someone to check in on you every day to make sure you’re OK. That same person can also help you make appointments to see your doctor or have follow-up testing. And they can help set up special support care like a home health aide.  
   
• Driving tasks. Ideally, someone else will be able to drive you to doctor’s appointments. (They can take notes there as needed, too.) They could also take you to the pharmacy to help fill your prescriptions and go grocery shopping. 
   
• Home care. You’ll likely need someone to help you cook and clean, take out the trash, pick up mail and do laundry.
   
• Personal care. You may need help doing day-to-day activities like showering, getting dressed and moving around your home. 

Find out if an Aetna care team can help you get the care you need 

A dedicated care team — a benefit of becoming a D-SNP member — can help you transition back home after a hospital stay. Schedule a call with a licensed Aetna agent to learn more about our D-SNPs. 

One of the biggest risks when you get home from the hospital is falling, says Curtiss. It’s most likely to happen in your bathroom or kitchen, where floors get wet and slippery. Some ways to help fall-proof your home: 

• Install grab bars in your shower and near your toilet. 
   
• Place a nonslip suction mat in your tub or shower. 
   
• Make sure things like towels, glasses, plates, cookware and hand soap are within easy reach.
   
• Wear nonskid socks.
   
• Use a reacher with long handles to pick up items from the floor.
   
• Use a sock aid and a shoehorn with a long handle to put on shoes and socks. 

Get extra support fall-proofing your home

Aetna D-SNP members get an annual fall prevention allowance to buy safety devices like shower grab bars and canes. Learn more about Aetna D-SNPs today.  

Be aware of warning signs that point to needing your provider’s attention. Curtiss suggests looking out for the following: 

• Chills
   
• Fast heartbeat
   
• Shortness of breath
   
• Rapid weight gain (which could suggest fluid retention) 
   
• Cramps 
   
• No appetite 
   
• Blood in your urine 

If you or your loved one notices any of these signs, reach out to your doctor immediately. They may point to an infection or blood clot. The faster you act, the sooner you can get the medical care you need. And hopefully avoid a repeat hospital stay. 

If you are eligible for both Medicare and Medicaid, you may be eligible for an Aetna® Dual Eligible Special Needs Plan (D-SNP). 

Aetna is a recipient of the Newsweek Best Customer Service Award for 2023.* 

*FOR 14 PERCENT READMISSION STATISTIC SOURCE: Weiss AJ, Jiang HJ. Healthcare Cost and Utilization Project. Overview of clinical conditions with frequent and costly hospital readmissions by payer, 2018. Statistical Brief #278. Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality. July 2021. Accessed July 8, 2023. 

*FOR INCREASE RECOVERY ODDS SOURCE: The Care Partner Project. Plan for discharge: transitioning recovery care from hospital to home. Accessed July 8, 2023. 

*The 2023 Newsweek America's Best Customer Service rankings were identified from the results of an independent survey of more than 30,000 U.S. customers who have either made purchases, used services, or gathered information about products or services in the past three years. Customers evaluated several brands: in total over 200,000 evaluations were collected. The awarded brands each received on average 100 evaluations from customers. For more information visit https://www.newsweek.com/rankings/americas-best-customer-service-2023 

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