Start with a one-page baseline
Hospital staff may meet your parent during pain, illness, fear, fatigue, or delirium. A short baseline helps them understand what is usual and what has changed.
- Preferred name and communication style.
- Usual memory, speech, mobility, toileting, eating, and sleep.
- Hearing, vision, language, and sensory needs.
- Triggers, fears, behaviors, and effective calming approaches.
- How pain or discomfort usually appears.
- Who knows the person best and who has legal authority.
Important
Use factual language: “May pace when frightened; responds to a calm voice and one-step directions” rather than “difficult patient.”
Medical and contact information
- Current medication list with dose, schedule, purpose, and last dose when known.
- Allergies and prior serious reactions.
- Diagnoses, recent symptoms, key clinicians, pharmacy, and home care contacts.
- Identification, insurance cards, and emergency contacts.
- Advance directive, health care proxy, MOLST/POLST or equivalent, guardianship, and other relevant documents when applicable.
Comfort and communication items
- Glasses, hearing aids, dentures, mobility aids, chargers, cases, and labels.
- A familiar photo, small blanket, music, or safe comfort object.
- Comfortable clothing, nonslip footwear, and requested toiletries.
- A written routine and food or cultural preferences.
- A communication card or translated phrases when useful.
Important
Avoid valuables, cash, irreplaceable items, unapproved medication, weapons, and anything the hospital prohibits.
What to tell the care team
- What changed and when it began.
- The usual baseline and best approach.
- What increases fear or agitation and what helps.
- Mobility, fall, swallowing, wandering, toileting, and skin concerns.
- Who should receive updates and make decisions.
- Home services or caregiver limits that affect discharge.
Important
Sudden confusion may be delirium or another acute problem—not simply dementia progression. Ask the clinical team to evaluate changes.
Questions before discharge
- What changed, what was treated, and what warning signs require help?
- Which medication was started, stopped, or changed—and why?
- What supervision, mobility help, diet, equipment, or follow-up is required?
- Who should be called with questions?
- Are results or appointments pending?
- Can the home and caregiver safely meet the new needs?
- What instructions and records should go to the next clinician or service?
To keep the underlying records organized between visits, see the first 30-day checklist for aging parents.