Why the first month home is risky
After a hospital stay, an older adult often comes home weaker than before, with new or changed medications, discharge instructions that are easy to misremember, and follow-up appointments to get to. Medicare tracks hospital readmissions within 30 days because this window is known to be risky.
The common problems are rarely dramatic at first: a new pill taken twice or not at all, not eating much, not drinking enough, a missed follow-up visit, getting up at night without the walker. Each one is easy to catch on a phone call, and easy to miss without one.
What a post-discharge check-in call covers
At intake we go over the discharge paperwork with you, so the caller knows what "normal" should look like for this recovery. Then, every day, the caller checks:
- Medications. We remind them of each one by name and time, confirm it was taken, and flag any refill that's running low.
- Eating and fluids. What they've had today, since appetite and hydration often drop after a hospital stay.
- Mobility. Any falls or near-falls, and whether they're using the cane or walker as instructed.
- How they sound. Confusion, unusual tiredness, or new pain compared with yesterday.
- Follow-up. That the appointment is on the calendar and the ride is arranged.
You get a written note after every call, so you can see the recovery as a pattern and spot a bad trend early.
What we don't do
Our callers are certified nursing assistants, but this is a non-medical service. They don't give medical advice, change medications, or replace a home health nurse, the discharge team, or 911. What they do is notice, write it down, and tell you the same day, so you can call the doctor while it's still a small problem.
Two or three calls a day during recovery
Many families choose a heavier schedule for the first few weeks:
- Morning & Evening ($89 a month) adds an evening call. The end of the day is when fatigue, falls, and confusion tend to show up.
- Full Day Watch ($129 a month) adds a midday call for lunch, fluids, and afternoon medications.
There's no contract, so you can step down to one call a day once things are steady. If your parent goes back into the hospital, you can pause the calls and restart them the day they come home.
Setting it up before they leave the hospital
The best time to call us is while your parent is still admitted. A fifteen-minute intake call with you is all it takes, and the first check-in can go out the morning after they get home.
Common questions
Can calls start the day after discharge?
Yes. Do the fifteen-minute intake by phone while your parent is still in the hospital, and the first call goes out the next morning after they're home.
Is this the same as home health care?
No. Home health is skilled medical care ordered by a doctor. Our wellness check calls are a non-medical service that works alongside it, and on the days nobody visits.
Can we pause the calls if they're readmitted?
Yes. Tell us the dates and we'll stop the calls, then restart them the day they come home.
Please note: Premium Care Wellness Checks is a non-medical telephone reassurance service. It is not medical care and not a substitute for 911, a physician, or a medical alert device. In an emergency, call 911.