Which factor is essential for ongoing care after discharge?

• A. Collaborative care among the healthcare team
• B. Independent care by a single nurse
• C. No follow-up after discharge
• D. Only weekend care

Answer: (A)

After discharge, older adults have ongoing medical, functional, and social needs that require coordinated attention from multiple professionals. Collaborative care brings together doctors, nurses, pharmacists, therapists, social workers, and family to share information and align a single, comprehensive plan. This teamwork ensures medication reconciliation, timely follow-up appointments, appropriate home health services, and caregiver education, all tailored to the individual’s situation. It also supports monitoring for adverse drug effects, changes in function, or new symptoms, so problems are caught early and addressed before they escalate. By coordinating care across settings, the transition from hospital to home becomes safer and more seamless for the patient.

Relying on one nurse to manage everything misses the breadth of needs, and no follow-up or care limited to weekends leaves critical gaps in monitoring and support that can lead to preventable complications or readmission.