Talking to the Discharge Planner: 12 Questions to Ask Before You Leave

I'm Abdi — I've been a caregiver for 10 years. And if I could hand every family one superpower on discharge day, it would be this: a short list of questions asked to the right person, with the answers written down.

That person is the discharge planner. Every hospital has them — sometimes they're called case managers or discharge coordinators. Their job is to make sure the person going home has what they need to be safe there. They're the bridge between the hospital and your house. And most families walk right past them without asking the questions that matter.

Here's the thing: discharge day is chaotic. Doctors round early, nurses are busy, and everyone is focused on getting the bed freed up. If you don't ask, you get a packet of papers and a handshake. If you do ask — the right questions, of the discharge planner — you leave with a plan.

Who the discharge planner is

The discharge planner is usually a nurse or social worker assigned to coordinate the transition home. They know what the doctors expect, what the insurance covers, and what typically goes wrong in the first week home. Find them. Ask the nurse, "Who's handling our discharge planning?" Get a name and a direct number.

The 12 questions

1. What equipment does the person actually need at home on day one?

Not "might need eventually." Day one. This is the must-have list, and it's usually shorter than you think.

2. What's nice to have but can wait until later?

Families overspend on discharge day because everything feels urgent. Most of it can wait a week or two until you know how recovery is really going.

3. What should the home look like when they arrive?

Bed on the main floor? A clear path to the bathroom? Ask specifically — "What room should they sleep in?" and "What does the bathroom need?"

4. What are the warning signs I should call about?

Fever, swelling, redness, sudden pain — ask for the specific list for this surgery or condition. Write it down. Put it on the fridge.

5. Who do I call, and at what hours?

The surgeon's office? A nurse line? The emergency room? Get names and numbers. "Call the office" isn't enough — get the number.

6. What follow-up appointments are already scheduled?

Don't leave without dates. If they're not scheduled, ask who schedules them and when you'll hear about them.

7. Has physical or occupational therapy been ordered?

PT and OT are where the real recovery plan lives. Ask whether referrals were sent, when therapy starts, and whether it's at home or at a clinic.

8. Were any medications changed, added, or stopped?

I'm not giving medication advice — that's between you and the care team. But do ask for a clear, written list of what changed and why, in words you understand. Medication mix-ups in the first week home are common and preventable.

9. What activity limits apply right now?

Can they climb stairs? Bend over? Lift anything? These limits shape everything about the home setup. Get them in plain language.

10. What should the first 24 hours look like?

Sleep schedule, first meals, how often they should get up and move — the discharge planner has seen hundreds of these first days. Ask what a good one looks like.

11. Can I get all of this in writing?

Always ask. Verbal instructions evaporate under stress. A one-page summary beats a ten-page packet you never read.

12. If something goes wrong at 2 AM, what's my exact move?

Not "go to the ER" — get specific. Which ER? Call first or just go? This is the question nobody asks and everybody wishes they had.

How to actually get answers

Don't try to catch the planner in the hallway. Ask the nurse for a sit-down — even fifteen minutes. Bring a notebook or your phone's notes app. Write down names, not just titles. And if an answer sounds vague, say so: "Can you say that in simpler terms?" Nobody minds. They'd rather explain twice than see you back in the ER.

One more thing I've learned in ten years: the discharge planner wants you to ask. A family that asks questions is a family that doesn't come back through the emergency entrance. You're not bothering anyone.

The bottom line

Discharge day isn't a finish line — it's a handoff. The hospital is passing the care to you, and you deserve the playbook. Twelve questions, one sit-down, everything in writing. That's the handoff done right.

Still not sure which one fits your situation? Email us at supplyingseniors.com@gmail.com — tell us about your situation and we'll point you to the right product.