Home care should ideally start the day your loved one is discharged from the hospital or rehab facility, since the first 48 to 72 hours home are the highest-risk window for falls, medication errors, and readmission, and having a caregiver in place from day one prevents problems instead of reacting to them.
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We can often start care the same day as discharge if you call ahead.
Why the First Few Days Matter Most
Pain is typically at its peak, mobility is at its most limited, and the home environment has not yet been adjusted to the new physical reality of the surgery. Studies on hospital readmissions consistently point to this early window as when the majority of preventable complications occur, often tied directly to a lack of supervision.
The Case for Arranging Care Before Surgery
Waiting until after the operation to start looking for a caregiver often means a gap of several days with no support, right when it is needed most. Families who arrange care in advance, ideally as soon as surgery is scheduled, can have someone in place the moment their loved one walks through the door.
What a Same-Day Start Actually Looks Like
With Premier Homecare Services, a family can complete an intake call and RN assessment before the surgery date, so the only thing left to confirm afterward is the discharge time. This is especially valuable for families managing the logistics of a hospital stay while also trying to prepare the home, which our home preparation checklist covers in more detail.
If surgery is already scheduled, the best time to call is now, not the week of discharge, so there is no gap in coverage during those first critical days.
Not sure which agency to trust with this timeline? Our guide on choosing a post-surgery home care agency covers exactly what to ask before discharge day arrives.