Hospital-to-Home Checklist: Your Parent's First 72 Hours
Know what to ask before discharge, your parent's rights if discharge feels too soon, and what to watch for once Mom or Dad is home. From a nurse with 22 years in the ER, ICU and home health.
After you sign up, check your inbox for an email from Nurse Melles. Don't see it? Look in your Promotions or spam folder, then click "Confirm & Get My Checklist."
What's inside your free checklist
Before you leave the hospital
The questions to ask so you don't walk out the door without understanding the plan, including "Is my parent inpatient or under observation?"
Not ready to go home? Your rights
How a Medicare fast appeal works, step by step, and the deadline most families miss.
The medication check
What to continue, stop, start or change, so the bottles at home match the discharge plan.
Is home actually ready?
Can your parent safely stand, walk, use the bathroom and be left alone? And can the person staying with them really help?
Rehab, skilled nursing or home health?
The Medicare basics for 2026: the 3-day rule, what home health covers, and what it costs.
Day by day for 72 hours
What to watch on day 1, 2 and 3, the warning signs, and the phone numbers to keep by the phone.
Meet your nurse
Hi, I'm Nurse Melles
I've spent 22 years as a registered nurse, working across the country in emergency rooms, intensive care, home health and case management.
On my YouTube channel, RN Healthcare Navigator, I'm here to help families like yours navigate hospital stays, discharge planning, and what happens next.
I'll help you understand your care options, know what questions to ask, and advocate for your aging parent with confidence.
Print it before discharge. Bring a pen.
You don't have to remember everything. You just need a system for knowing what happens next, what changed, what to watch for, and who to call.
Nurse Melles | RN Healthcare Navigator | Helping You Navigate Your Parents' Healthcare
YouTube · Facebook group · Instagram · TikTok · Pinterest · LinkedIn
Educational purposes only, not medical advice. Always follow your parent's discharge instructions and talk with their care team. In an emergency, call 911.
