After Hospital Care
at Home
Nona’s Home Care provides after-hospital care across San Diego County and Orange County, helping seniors recover safely at home after a hospital or rehab stay.
When a loved one comes home from the hospital or rehab, the first days and weeks are when things are most likely to go wrong. Without the support of hospital staff, falls, medication mix-ups and missed hygiene needs become more likely, especially while your loved one adjusts to being home again.
Your loved one may be eager to leave the hospital, while you worry about how they’ll manage at home. After-hospital care eases that transition. A trained caregiver from Nona’s Home Care supports your loved one through recovery at home in San Diego or Orange County and takes pressure off your family during a stressful time.
Here are a few of the things post-hospital home care can take care of for your family:
- Reminders to follow discharge instructions
- Medication reminders, prescription pickups and pharmacy runs
- Transportation to follow-up appointments and therapy
- Updates to family and the care team on how recovery is going
- Grocery shopping, meal preparation and help with eating
When Is After-Hospital Home Care Needed?
After-hospital care in San Diego and Orange County can help after almost any hospital stay. In general, the more serious the reason for the stay, the harder the transition home, but even short hospital visits can leave a senior weaker and less steady than before. Here are some of the most common reasons local families arrange after-hospital home care, whether their loved one is coming home from Scripps, Sharp, UC San Diego Health, Hoag or another Southern California hospital.
Help With Mobility After a Hospital Stay
If your loved one was hospitalized for a broken hip, a back injury or another mobility issue, getting around at home will likely be a challenge. Hospitals are equipped to make it easier to get in and out of bed or the shower, and most homes aren’t.
At home, your loved one has to adjust to limited mobility in a space that wasn’t designed for it. As they improve through physical therapy, they may also push themselves to do more than is safe.
An after-hospital caregiver in San Diego or Orange County helps your loved one find safe ways to move around the house and offers steady physical support to prevent falls and re-injury.
Preventing Pneumonia and Infections After Discharge
Anesthesia and limited movement during recovery can raise the risk of pneumonia. Following discharge instructions, your after-hospital caregiver reminds your loved one to do breathing exercises and get up and move as the doctor allows.
Good hygiene, fresh air, hydration and nutrition also help prevent infections and other setbacks. It can be hard for someone recovering to keep up with cleaning the bathroom or even bathing regularly, so in-home care after a hospital stay in San Diego or Orange County keeps the home clean and supports healing.
Following Doctor’s Orders at Home
Once home from the hospital, many people are tempted to indulge in things they missed, like favorite foods, or to skip medications with unpleasant side effects. Those choices can quickly lead to setbacks or even a return to the hospital.
An after-hospital caregiver helps your loved one stick to the doctor’s orders by giving medication reminders, preparing meals that follow dietary restrictions and supporting prescribed therapy exercises. This kind of after-hospital home care in San Diego and Orange County can make a real difference in how quickly and fully your loved one recovers.
How Much Does After-Hospital Care Cost?
After-hospital care in San Diego and Orange County costs $40 to $50 an hour at Nona’s, depending on the level of care, with no deposits or weekly minimums. 24-hour care is available for $850 to $1,100 a day if your loved one needs someone with them around the clock.
Most families start with longer shifts in the first week home, then step down as their loved one regains strength. Two weeks of 6-hour daily visits, for example, costs about $3,360 to $4,200. Medicare may cover skilled home health visits from a nurse or therapist after a hospital stay, while caregiver support is usually paid privately or through long-term care insurance.
Where we provide after-hospital care
Nona’s provides after-hospital home care throughout San Diego County, from Del Mar and La Jolla to North County, East County and the South Bay, and across Orange County, including Irvine, Newport Beach, Mission Viejo and Laguna Woods. We can often start care the same day your loved one comes home.
Why Families Choose Nona’s for After-Hospital Care
Families across San Diego and Orange County trust Nona’s Home Care caregivers, who are thoroughly trained and experienced, and some have been with us for nearly two decades. We’ll match your loved one with a caregiver who fits their needs, and if that caregiver is ever unavailable, backup caregivers are ready so care continues. You may not know how much help your loved one will need after the hospital, and that’s okay: our flexible scheduling lets you adjust shifts with at least 24 hours’ notice as recovery progresses.
Our Caregivers Love Working for Us and You
We have almost no turnover among our senior care services because we create a supportive work environment, with plenty of training to enable our senior caregiving staff to thrive in their careers.
Never be Left Without the Care You Need
You’ll love the relationship you form with a dedicated caregiver during regularly scheduled shifts. However, if ever there is an unforeseen emergency, you won’t need to worry about being left without coverage. We have unmatched staff availability.
Senior Care Services Only When You Need Them
Change or cancel shifts with at least 24 hours notice without any kind of penalties or obligations. We don’t require weekly minimums or deposits either, so you have total control over your schedule.
We accept long term care benefits from all major carriers. Including, but not limited to:
How do I start my home care?
Starting after-hospital care in San Diego or Orange County with Nona’s Home Care is simple. Call us before discharge if you can, and we’ll match a caregiver and set up a schedule so care is ready when your loved one gets home. A free consultation shows how in-home care can support their recovery.
Frequently asked questions
When should we arrange care after a hospital discharge?
Ideally before your loved one leaves the hospital. For discharges in San Diego County or Orange County, once you know the discharge date, call us so we can match a caregiver and have care ready for the first day home. Nona’s can often start the same day, even when discharge happens quickly.
How long do seniors usually need after-hospital care?
It depends on the reason for the hospital stay. Many San Diego and Orange County families use after-hospital care for two to six weeks, starting with longer daily shifts and stepping down as strength returns. Some continue with a few visits a week for ongoing support.
Does Medicare pay for after-hospital home care?
Medicare may cover short-term skilled home health, such as nursing or physical therapy visits, after a qualifying hospital stay. It doesn’t cover non-medical caregivers who help with bathing, meals and daily tasks, which families usually pay for privately or through long-term care insurance.
Can a caregiver stay overnight after my parent comes home?
Yes. The first nights home are often when falls and confusion are most likely, so many families book overnight or 24-hour care for the first few days. You can reduce coverage as your loved one gets steadier.
Can a caregiver work alongside home health nurses and therapists?
Yes. Home health nurses and therapists handle skilled care during short visits, and your caregiver covers daily living between those visits. Caregivers follow the care plan and let your family know about any changes they notice.
Helpful guides
- In-Home Care After a Hospital Discharge in San Diego: planning the first weeks home
- After Surgery Care: recovery support at home after surgery
- Short-Term Home Care: help for a few weeks or months, with no long contract
- Does Medicare Cover Home Care?: what Medicare pays for and what it doesn’t
