Hospital to home care and recovery
Coming home from the hospital or rehab is a relief, and it can also be scary. Your loved one may be weaker than expected, unsteady on their feet and trying to follow a long list of discharge instructions. The first days and weeks at home are when recovery matters most, and when the risk of a setback is highest.
At Always Responsive Home Care, a caregiver can be there from the moment your loved one walks through the door, helping them heal safely, regain their strength and get back to their routine.
From our office in Princeton, serving Mercer County, NJ.
What is hospital to home care?
Hospital to home care means a caregiver is in the home from the day your loved one returns from a hospital, rehab facility or surgery, usually for a few weeks. A caregiver can meet your loved one at the door, help them up the stairs and even stay the first night. As your loved one gets stronger, hours are reduced, so you only pay for the help they actually need.
Why the first two weeks matter most
The first week or two after a significant hospitalization or rehab stay is one of the most important times in recovery. We always suggest booking a little more care in the beginning than you think your loved one will need. It may seem like more than they need, but it rarely is, and you can easily scale back as they get stronger. In our experience, families who start this way have the most success.
How our caregivers help
- Safe movement Help getting in and out of bed, walking, stairs and transfers, following the therapist's precautions
- Personal care Bathing, dressing and toileting while your loved one is still weak
- Meals and fluids Nourishing meals and encouraging fluids to support healing
- Medications Medication reminders so new and changed medications are taken on time
- Rides to appointments Rides to follow up appointments with a caregiver who drives
- Light housekeeping
- Companionship Companionship and reassurance, especially at night when many people feel most anxious
Warning signs we report the same day
Our caregivers watch closely and let your family and our care team know the same day if they notice:
- New confusion
- Not eating or drinking enough
- Changes in an incision, like redness, swelling, warmth or drainage
- Unsteadiness or near falls
- New shortness of breath or swelling in the ankles and legs
Working alongside home health
We are a non-medical home care agency. If your loved one's doctor orders home health, a nurse or therapist will visit for medical tasks like wound care and therapy. Our caregivers cover all the hours in between and follow the therapist's precautions, so your loved one is supported around the clock if needed.
Recoveries we help with
- Hip and knee replacements
- Heart surgery and heart failure
- Pneumonia and other serious illness
- Falls and broken bones
- Weakness after a long hospital stay
- Stroke recovery, for as long as recovery takes
Call before the discharge date
The best time to call us is as soon as a discharge date is mentioned, not the morning of. That gives us time to match the right caregiver and have them ready when your loved one gets home. Care can often start the very same day, which is one reason so many hospital discharge planners count on us.
It starts with a free in home assessment
Every client begins with a free, no obligation in home assessment. Share the discharge instructions, medication list and therapy schedule with us. Our registered nurse will create a custom care plan, and we will review and reduce hours as recovery progresses. We will also work with you to make care as affordable as possible.
Why families trust Always Responsive Home Care
We are a family owned, nurse led home care agency, caring for families since 2010. Our caregivers are our employees, bonded, insured and supervised by our care team, and a real person answers our calls and texts 24 hours a day, 365 days a year, including holidays. Care can often start the very same day, with no long term contracts, no large deposits and nothing billed in advance, and we handle the paperwork for long term care insurance.
Ways to schedule recovery care
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24/7 care
Awake, alert caregivers around the clock, often the best choice for the first week or two home.
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Overnight care
An awake, alert caregiver for nighttime bathroom trips and reassurance when fear is strongest.
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Hourly care
A great next step as your loved one gets stronger and needs less help.
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Live-in care
A dedicated caregiver who lives in your loved one's home.
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24/7 Virtual Care
An extra layer of insight that can pick up early signs of trouble, like more coughing or restless nights.
Frequently asked questions
Still have a question? Call or text us. Someone is here to talk, any time of day.
(609) 208-1111Click or tap a question to see the answer.
How soon can care start after a hospital discharge?
Care can often start the very same day. For the smoothest start, call us as soon as a discharge date is mentioned so we can have the right caregiver ready.
Doesn't Medicare cover care after a hospital stay?
Medicare may cover a short period of skilled nursing or therapy visits at home, but it generally does not cover a caregiver to stay with your loved one for hours at a time or help with daily needs. Many families use our care alongside Medicare home health. Our services are private pay, and if your loved one has long term care insurance, we take care of the administrative work for you.
Is there anything your caregivers can't help with?
Our caregivers provide non-medical care. They can give medication reminders, but they do not give medications, do wound care or provide therapy. Those are handled by home health nurses and therapists, and we work right alongside them.
Schedule your free in home assessment
If a loved one is coming home from the hospital or rehab, call or text us today, or fill out the form below. We will listen, answer your questions and have a caregiver ready to help your loved one recover safely at home.
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