The ride home is the easy part. What happens in the first 72 hours — the missed medication, the trip over the bath mat, the empty refrigerator — is what sends nearly one in five older adults back to the hospital within a month. Here's what to have in place before and after discharge.
If your parent needs someone steady nearby for bathing, meals, medication reminders, or overnight reassurance — and family can't cover every shift — a licensed home care agency can bridge the gap. Willow Home Care specializes in transition care across the greater Austin area, from Round Rock and Georgetown to Kyle and Lakeway. We can usually complete an assessment within 24 hours of a discharge call, and care often starts the same week.
Not sure what level of help is right? Start with our guides on the difference between home health and home care, what home care costs in Austin, and the questions to ask any agency before you hire one.
Usually within 24–48 hours of your call, and often the same week — including short-notice starts when a discharge happens suddenly. Call us from the hospital hallway if you need to: (512) 237-7991.
Medicare may cover short-term skilled home health ordered by a doctor, but generally not non-medical care like bathing help, meals, and supervision. Many Austin families use both together — see our Medicare and home care guide.
That's common — recovery care doesn't have to be permanent. There are no long-term contracts, so care can wind down as your parent regains strength.