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What to Bring to the Hospital for an Aging Parent

A printable go-bag and discharge checklist, filled in with your parent's actual information — not a blank form.

Fill in whatever you know right now. Nothing is required, nothing is saved to an account, and the sheet prints with what you have. If you already keep a printable medication list or an emergency information sheet, copy from those — the hospital will ask for the same facts twice.

1Who

2Coverage

The plan name printed on the card, not just "Medicare".

3Medical

4Documents on file

CriticalCoverage gap

Allergies and code status are the two answers a hospital asks for first, so the sheet flags them until they are filled in.

Your printable sheet

MyKinFolder

Hospital go-bag and discharge checklist

Parent

P

Printed 9/16/2026

Updated 9/16/2026

Go-bag — what to physically bring

  • Insurance card and photo ID
  • Printed medication list with doses
  • Glasses
  • Hearing aids and spare batteries
  • CPAP mask and tubing
  • Phone charger with a long cord
  • Contact list on paper
  • Comfortable non-slip footwear
  • Copy of the advance directive

Their information

AllergiesNot recorded
Code status / directiveNot recorded
Family contactNot recorded
Second contactNot recorded
Insurance planNot recorded
Member IDNot recorded
PharmacyNot recorded
Primary care doctorNot recorded

Medications

No medications entered — write them in below.

Specialists

None entered.

Documents on file

  • Healthcare power of attorney
  • HIPAA authorization
  • Advance directive
  • Financial POA
  • Insurance cards photographed

Questions to ask before discharge

  1. Which medications changed while they were here?

  2. Which of their old medications should they stop?

  3. Who follows up, and when is that appointment?

  4. What warning signs mean we call, and who do we call?

  5. What equipment or supplies are we going home with, and who delivers them?

  6. Is a home health visit ordered?

  7. What was the discharge diagnosis, in writing?

This sheet covers one hospital visit. See what else your family is missing.

The readiness assessment walks through emergency contacts, medications, legal documents, home access and who is doing what — and shows the gaps in writing.

Take the readiness assessmentDoctor appointment checklist

Common questions

What should I bring to the hospital for an elderly parent?
Bring their insurance and photo ID cards, a current medication list with doses, glasses, hearing aids with spare batteries, a CPAP mask if they use one, a phone charger with a long cord, a paper list of family contacts, comfortable non-slip footwear, and a copy of the advance directive if one exists.
What questions should I ask before my parent is discharged?
Ask which medications changed during the stay, which old medications should stop, who follows up and when that appointment is, what warning signs mean you call and who you call, what equipment or supplies are coming home and who delivers them, whether a home health visit is ordered, and to get the discharge diagnosis in writing.
Do I need a HIPAA authorization to get my parent's medical information?
Usually yes. A signed HIPAA authorization lets the hospital share your parent's information with you by name. A healthcare power of attorney lets you make decisions when your parent cannot. Many families keep both, because staff may ask for either one before discussing anything.
What should I do in the first 48 hours after my parent comes home?
Reconcile the discharge medication list against the bottles at home and remove anything that was stopped, confirm the follow-up appointment is on the calendar, check that ordered equipment and home health visits actually arrive, watch for the warning signs you were given, and share the updated medication list with the rest of the family.