If your older family member is admitted to the hospital for an illness or surgery, do you know your care and rehab options once they are discharged?
Even after a hip replacement, an elderly patient may stay in the hospital only three or four days, depending on their progress. It is so important to work with the appropriate hospital staff, such as a case worker or discharge planner, quickly to determine the best rehabilitation option to recuperate and prevent a readmission. The hospital staff can help you understand the level of skilled care and services needed for their rehabilitation.
Research shows that between 15-20% of patients, who are discharged from the hospital, will be readmitted with 30 days or less. Often times, these readmissions could be preventable. It is important to understand the three primary options of where your family member can be cared for after a hospital stay and what is the best fit for your situation.
If your loved one requires round-the-clock monitoring and skilled nursing care after a hospital stay, then moving them into a skilled nursing facility is necessary. If your loved one is suffering from a debilitating medical problem and require constant aftercare and treatment, their doctor may order inpatient services for their acute medical condition. Skilled nursery facilities can feel clinical and most patients will share a room.
If your loved one needs part time or intermittent services, a licensed medical professional can be scheduled to visit the home. The success of home health services depends on the support system of their living situation. Getting plenty of rest in a familiar environment can be good for recuperation. But if a patient is living alone, they may feel isolated. Rehabilitation exercises may need to be done independently and require the patient to be self-motivated. If you feel as though your loved one is too unstable or weak to live alone and there are no family members who can care for them, then home services may not be the best fit.
Many families are unaware that assisted living communities offer short term stays for patients released from the hospital to to live while they recuperate. Assisted living communities can offer nursing care, therapy services, and 24-hour care staff in a homey environment. Basic needs like the activities of daily living, such as getting dressed, making meals and bathing, can greatly reduce stress for both the patient and family members. Most communities can provide transportation to and from doctor and therapy appointments. Assisted living communities provide peer support, activities, and socialization that aid in healing and mental well-being. Many times, a patient will enjoy the community and opt to stay as a permanent resident.
In the case of an emergency hospital stay, Aegis Living has recently launched a new public service, the Red Crisis File. A member of the Aegis team will walk a caregiver or family members through a checklist to gather the state required documentation needed to move a loved one into a respite stay, assisted living, or memory care. This is a free service that can be completed before an emergency for peace of mind. Contact an Aegis Living community today to be prepared in the case of an emergency, such as a hospital stay.
Respite Stays & Day Stays give family caregivers a real break—hours, days, or a few weeks—while your loved one enjoys a safe, enriching short‑term home at Aegis Living. Guests settle into a beautifully furnished private apartment and have 24/7 care staff and onsite nurses, medication management, and discreet safety technology (motion sensors, medical‑alert pendants, visitor check‑in) for peace of mind. Each day feels purposeful with chef‑prepared, all‑day dining and 200+ monthly activities—from book clubs and fitness classes to movie nights—plus full use of the community. We coordinate with your loved one’s physicians to mirror their routines and care, so the stay feels familiar. It’s also a smart trial run for senior living: meet neighbors, test services, and see what supported independence looks like—without a long‑term commitment. Choose a Respite Stay when you’re traveling or need time to recharge, when your loved one would benefit from structure, social connection, and great meals, or when you both want peace of mind while keeping options open.
Hospice & End‑of‑Life Care at Aegis Living is comfort‑first support for the final stage of life, delivered in your loved one’s private apartment by our 24/7 care team in coordination with a trusted local hospice provider you choose (or we can recommend). Together, we create a coordinated care plan that manages pain and other symptoms, oversees medications, and provides calm, dignified help with daily needs, while offering compassionate emotional support for both resident and family. Discreet safety measures and a reliable medical‑alert system bring help quickly; chef‑prepared, in‑apartment meals adapt to changing appetites. Families are guided through decisions and moments of closure so they can focus on being present in a peaceful, home‑like setting. If your loved one already lives at Aegis, they can remain in the comfort of their home, avoiding disruptive moves. Choose this level of care when curative treatment is no longer the goal and you want expert symptom control, hands‑on daily support, and a setting that protects dignity and prioritizes comfort, meaning, and time together.
Memory Care is specialized, secure support for people living with Alzheimer’s or other dementias who benefit from a calm, structured environment and round‑the‑clock expertise. At Aegis Living, that care happens in Life’s Neighborhood—an intimate, thoughtfully designed setting where 24/7 dementia‑trained caregivers and a nursing team on site seven days a week deliver personalized help with daily living, medication management, and mobility (including Hoyer lifts and two‑person transfers), while gently redirecting agitation and confusion. Days are purpose‑filled with science‑based cognitive programming, certified music therapy, and social activities; chef‑prepared meals are easy to enjoy and dining spaces and cues are designed for memory support. Discreet safety features like secured entrances, emergency pendants with fall detection, and optional motion sensors, prevent wandering and bring peace of mind, and visiting physicians and wellness professionals reduce trips off‑site. Families receive education and ongoing support. If your loved one is unsafe alone, missing medications, wandering, needs frequent cueing or hands‑on help with bathing or dressing, or thrives with a predictable routine, Memory Care offers the right level of care. For milder needs, our transitional Assisted Living can be a first step; for advancing symptoms, secured Memory Care provides the specialized, heartfelt support to help them feel calm, connected, and at home.