Confirm pickup and the first evening
Ask your surgery center who can pick you up and whether someone should stay with you. Give your helper the pickup location and agree on a backup if discharge runs later than expected.
Planning for surgery
Arrange home care before surgery
Make a plan for the ride home, the first evening, and the daily tasks you’ll need help with while you recover.
See the surgery support checklistWhat to line up before your procedure
Schedule help around your recovery plan
List meals, groceries, rides, and other daily tasks you expect to need help with. Ask your surgical team what support to arrange and when to revisit the schedule.
Ask about skilled visits before you book
If the surgical team expects nursing or therapy at home, ask who will place the referral and how you’ll hear when a provider accepts it. Keep the team’s follow-up number with your written instructions.
Share one plan with the people helping you
Write down the procedure date, recovery ZIP, pickup contact, and the name of the person covering the first evening. If you need paid help, share the tasks and dates with the agency and ask what it can confirm.
Discharged from a Brooklyn hospital? See the local 48-hour checklist
Official resources
Want help with your next step?
Tell us where care is needed, what kind of help you’re looking for, and when you hope to start. Our team can talk through your options if you ask for a callback.