Sonder Hospice

A Hospital-to-Home with Hospice Transition Guide for Austin Families.

The 4-Hour Sanctuary Plan

A Hospital-to-Home with Hospice Transition Guide for Austin Families.

“If you are reading this in a hospital hallway at Baylor Scott & White, St. David’s or Ascension Seton, take a breath. You are no longer alone. Use this checklist to ensure your parent transitions from the hospital to the ‘Sanctuary Standard’ of local care.”

🛡️ The 5-Point Discharge Checklist

  • 1. Secure the Home Infrastructure (DME Audit)
    • The Action: Confirm that the hospital bed, oxygen concentrator, and pressure-relief mattress are physically inside the home before the transport ambulance arrives.
    • The Insider Tip: We vet providers to ensure the “Sanctuary” is fully built—including bedside commodes or suction—before your parent even crosses the threshold.
  • 2. Meds: The ‘Stop vs. Continue’ Reconciliation
    • The Action: Ask the hospital doctor: “Which medications are for ‘cure’ (stop) and which are for ‘comfort’ (continue)?” Ensure the hospice pharmacy ‘Comfort Kit’ is delivered within 1 hour of arrival.
    • The Insider Tip: In neighborhoods like Westlake or Round Rock, local pharmacy speed for pain crisis meds is the difference between peace and a 911 call.
  • 3. The Physician Handoff: “What is the Next 48 Hours?”
    • The Action: Request a direct clinical update: “What specific physical changes should we expect in the first 48 hours at home?”
    • The Insider Tip: Don’t settle for vague answers. The ‘Sanctuary Standard’ means knowing exactly what “settling in” looks like for your parent’s specific condition.
  • 4. Activate the 4-Hour Transition Navigator
    • The Action: Ask the Case Manager: “Is the hospice provider prepared to be at our front door within 4 hours of discharge to manage the handoff?”
    • The Insider Tip: National 1-800 call centers often take 48 hours to show up; local Austin Navigators demand a 4-hour clinical start.
  • 5. Residence Readiness & Sanctuary Setup
    • The Action: Verify that the residence (home, assisted living, or memory care) is cleared for hospice access and that supplies like wipes, gloves, and underpads are stocked.
    • The Insider Tip: You are not a case manager. Use your Austin Roadmap to ensure the residence is a home again, not a medical unit.

“Treating this search like it’s for our own parents.” For Urgent Help: (512) 354-7222