Bringing a parent home? Get tonight’s details in one place.

Print this free one-page First Night Home Quick Sheet for phone numbers, medication changes, and who’s helping tonight.

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One pageFirst night home
Who to call with questions
Medication changes confirmed
Equipment and path to the bathroom checked
Who’s helping tonight and who’s the backup

Family Elder Planning

First-night details to confirm

Date:

Use this sheet alongside the discharge instructions. Ask the care team or pharmacist about anything that is unclear.

1. Who to call with questions

Care-team contact:

After-hours number:

Pharmacy:

2. Medication changes confirmed

  • Medication list matches the discharge instructions
  • We know which medicines are new, changed, or stopped
  • We have confirmed the next dose and pharmacy pickup

Who will ask about anything unclear?

3. First-night setup

  • Equipment and supplies are ready, or someone is following up
  • We checked the path to the bathroom, lighting, stairs, cords, rugs, and pets
  • Phone, glasses, and the recommended mobility aid are within reach; drinks follow the discharge instructions

4. Follow-up contacts

First appointment or call:

Home health or therapy contact:

Who will follow up on the next business day?

5. Warning signs the discharge team told us to watch for

Who to call and when:

6. Who is helping tonight and tomorrow morning?

Staying or checking in:

Medication list and pickup:

Morning call or appointment:

Backup if the plan changes:

Organization support, not medical advice. Follow the discharge team’s instructions. For urgent symptoms or immediate safety concerns, contact emergency services or a licensed clinician.

familyelderplanning.com/first-night-home-quick-sheet/

Tonight is the starting point.
What about the next two weeks?

The First 14 Days Home Kit gives you more room to track medication changes, work out who’s helping, and leave clear notes for the next caregiver.

Partial previews from the Home Kit

Section 3

Medication changes

Medication
New / changed / stopped
Dose and timing
Question / next action
Owner

Section 13

Family coverage

Coverage need
Morning check-in
Primary person
Backup
Days / times
Gap or next step

Section 17

Caregiver handoff

What changed?
What still needs doing?
What should the next person ask about?

About 20 fillable and printable pages. $5 one-time purchase, no subscription. Fill them in your browser, then print or save as PDF.

See the First 14 Days Home Kit · $5

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References and review

Reviewed and updated: October 3, 2026. This sheet draws on the Medicare discharge planning checklist and AHRQ’s IDEAL discharge-planning resources. It has not been clinically reviewed.

For a fuller list of things to arrange before coming home, open the free discharge checklist. No email needed. For help with the first two days at home, read the First 48 Hours guide.