I was scheduled for surgery today. Has anyone else encountered needing 24 hrs of monitoring at home in order to be discharged?

Just noted an ad stating rate is $32.00 per hour, personal
but non medical care, with 4 hour minimum.

Yes, if there isn't family or friends visiting, they will not let you go unless you tell them who will take care of you at home. Luckly, I always had my husband but if not they would not let me leave. My dad and my husband were also told this when they were ready to leave.

My brother lives alone in another state and had to argue this very point with his hospital. He had to use an uber to get home after a procedure because there was no one to pick him up. He threw a fit and said I am alone but that doesn't mean you can deny me healthcare. I think they made him sign something releasing them of any responsibility.

Depending on the type and severity of surgery you are having, many hospitals and insurance companies want after care, either at home or in a rehab nursing home. Insurance wants you out of the hospital, but usually will continue to pay for recovery in rehab situation. Not unusual.

Every and any procedure I have ever had that required any type of sedation - whether twilight (like for a colonoscopy or a major dental) or full sedation (like for a surgery where you have to be out) and being released from the hospital, they have all required that not only someone be there for me during the following 24 hours but that I had to have someone drive me home - not a cab or ride share service but a person who appear in person.

So, having no immediate family, when my s.o. was not able to assist, I would ask either a close friend, a neighbor who I have a friendship with, or even someone from my bookclub who I have known for several years. Perhaps you have someone you know in a social setting who might be willing to accompany you (you could even offer to pay them for their time and 'service'. In turn, I have also been 'that' person who has been the 24-hour person for a friend or neighbor - spending a night with them when they needed help.

As we age, we cannot count on having family always there to help us. That is why it is so important to form and maintain friendships. I am fortunate for I live in an over-55 active community - actively participating in many of the clubs and social functions has been such a huge blessings in making new friends.

Yes, even having something very minor, they require you to be monitored. You can pre-arrange for a caregiver or companion from a professional caregiver agency to assist you upon completion of your surgery. It’s a safe way of ensuring there’s no medical complications.

This is a common recommendation after general anesthesia. I don't know if this is what is happening to you or not. I am also scheduled for surgery (tomorrow, as I write this) and I was told this early in the process. I do feel that patients need to dig for information far too much. I have often wondered, myself, what people who are alone do in situations like this. I assume a social worker helps them, but I don't really know. However, I hope you will not proceed until you can rely on a friend, neighbor, or family member to help you for that first 24 hours. If you have no one to fill this role, tell your doctor immediately.

I was scheduled for a bilateral mastectomy (both breasts removed)for cancer. After seeing the doctor, the office manager informed me it was to be a "day surgery". Enter hospital in the AM, home in the PM.

I thought I had heard wrong. She assured me I had not. That was all insurance would pay for, she said.
I am a registered nurse, but I live alone. I know how to handle drains and dressings, but I was darn sure not going to accept just a Tylenol hyped up with codeine to manage the pain. For once I was thankful I had NO insurance!

I spun around and went back to the Dr. "No", he said, "you stay in the hospital as long as you feel the need!". I stayed only one night and slept fairly well with a pain shot. Then home.
Two to three times a day I emptied the two drains from my chest. I changed a saturated dressing and slept fitfully. I did the exercises they gave me, healed well and started chemo. But I was mad.

Happy to say, several years later I am still cancer-free, and am on Medicare now. but I'm still puzzled by my "day-surgery". Thank goodness I had friends who brought me food and took me to chemo as I was not allowed to drive.

That is the discharge planners job, if you have no other options , to ensure a safe discharge home. They need to find you a ride and a caregiver that can ensure you are safe at home and arrange home health to stay with you ...by either contacting your insurance company or setting up a private pay service. Medicare will not pay for home care unless you stay a full 72 inpatient hours in the hospital. If they try to tell you that is your problem, inform them that it is an unsafe discharge if
they do not do their job! "Unsafe discharge " is the magic term you need to use. Your local County Aging office may also offer some assistance , and caregivers on their registry are vetted. Very unprofessional that the hospital did not discuss this with you ahead of time. I would shop around for next time ....

adler169: They typically do not send a patient to their home when no other resident will BE at the home, similarly to the driver of the motor vehicle necessary.

I am scheduled for my first colonoscopy next month and am both terrified and dreading it. Invasive procedures are one of my biggest PTSD triggers.
DH will bring me and take me home, but I know there is no way he will stay home with me and not go play golf or go to the gym. LOL
After his procedures, he'd be starving and we'd always go right out to eat. I have a feeling that I'll be too mentally exhausted and feel gross and just want to get straight home to bed.

Obviously you were more than likely having an out-patient surgery meaning going home same day as your procedure. This means you will still be metabolizing the general anesthesia you received when you leave to go home. It can take up to 24 hrs to start feeling like you did before the anesthesia, during this time you could make poor choices leading to a fall, a burn when cooking even taking your medication incorrectly so finding someone to monitor you post-op is a safe plan of care.

One alternative, hire a "Visiting Angel."

Yes, some surgeries require someone else to be in the home for safety reasons such as use of crutches, pain medication control, preventing falls, making sure to report any complications that may occur, etc. I f no one is available you may be sent to rehab for a short period of time. The surgeon should have checked out your resources of home care while talking with you about surgery. They will contact a case manager to make plans while you are in the hospital.

Another thought about ppst-surgical supervision: double -check with the doctor him or herself. The office staff and the paperwork and the IV technician at the surgery will usually always say you need to be supervised/monitored after surgery, but the doctor has a more accurate assessment of you as an individual, and may have a different opinion. I have routinely had doctors assure me there was no need for overnight supervision. It may depend on the extent of the surgery, but do check with the doctor.

Yes. The health dept or home health worker from hospital should be able to help you. I had rn for 6 weeks to monitor my incision

Yes. The last time I had surgery they wanted that. I’m a widow so that was a little difficult. My son only lives 3 blocks from me so after a few hours we determined he didn’t need to stay.

All my family lives out-of-state, leaving me isolated. I,m 66, and my youngest sibling is 3 years older with several health conditions. In these COVID-19 times, I'm wondering if anyone will fly in to see me, let alone stay with me. I will have to count on a few close neighbors the day I will need cataract surgery or other procedures. My disability and anxiety makes me feel worse, but I do the best I can.

Yes.

Arrange for a friend to stay if possible.

This has become more common as hospital stays have become shorter. This requirement is a combination of liability the medical practice refuses to take and a hospital stay the insurance companies refuse to cover in light of a surgery that poses risks and challenges of caring for oneself post-op.

You may be “just fine,” but why take a chance? A fall could be devastating and impact your independence.

You can always hire someone who can clean too. Then, as you recover, you will enjoy your home more.

If you are overwhelmed about the entire situation, ask your doctor if you can be admitted/inpatient for the 24 hours following the procedure.

Absolutely there is often a requirement that you have post surgery supervision, depending upon the surgery, anesthesia etc. This should have been discussed when the surgery was arranged so you could make arrangements for that supervision. If you have no one who can stay with you or you with them, you might have to hire a Home Health aide to stay with at least overnight. Home Care Agencies offer this service. Sometimes the hospital can arrange a Respite stay, for which you have to pay out of pocket. Nursing Homes and Rehab facilities may also offer Respite Stays (again self-pay), but there is often a 3 to 5 day minimum which is more than you need.

Usually, a person who has an operation needs somebody to monitor them for sedation, pain, and signs of fever or problems. The person operated on is still clearing anesthesia from his or her system for 24 hours - sometimes longer.

Might be because of the medicine they use to put you out or in what they call a twilight sleep. I had something one time and they told me/had me sign a form that said not to make any legal decisions (or similar) after the procedure. I thought, at the time, why are you telling me this info if you already anticipate the possibility of my mental status being a little off afterwards. I mean, I could leave there and not even remember they told me that. Which is exactly what happened. They didn't tell my designated driver and I instructed him to take me to a couple of stores after we left. Apparently, I seemed quite okay. The next day, I found a receipt for a ring I bought and left at store to be sized. I didn't even remember going to that store. We also stopped at a couple more places and then to a restaurant for lunch. Crazy day!!

Now the joke is if I need an outpatient surgery, who will take me so we can shop afterwards! --- Have someone take you and instruct them ahead of time that even if you ask, don't go shopping.

As a note, it might also be a precautionary to watch for bleeding or weakness. Cataract surgery means no bending and eye meds afterwards. If you were alone and dropped something, you might need a little help. Even single people would have to find a buddy.

They didn't offer to keep you in the hospital?

When I had an endoscopy procedure, I stayed an extra day in the hospital.

I’ve had this ‘requirement’ put on me with both colonoscopies and my retina re-attachment. I just lie, and go to bed at home. I've always had my daughter to pick me up and drop me off at home. It looks good!

Although I understand the need for companionship after surgery, the hospitals are also covered by the pre-surgical consent.  If you haven't read one thoroughly, do so.   Don't forget to spend some time reading the indemnification sections.

Yes, I'm a senior and have gone through this twice, both with disastrous consequences. The first time was in Boston, and the hospital insisted on this process for a colonoscopy. The young woman an agency sent was no doubt on drugs and then robbed me of my then top-of-the-line cell phone, which had a ton of information on it I absolutely needed for a very demanding job I had then. Filed police report, but they did nothing. There was nothing I could do but buy a new phone. When the agency tried to charge me $150 or so for her "services," I hit the roof and refused to pay. The 2nd time was more recently when I had surgery where I live in another part of the country. The cheapest I could find for someone to stay with me 24 hours was $500 cash up front. So, I hired a "friend" -- ha,ha -- of someone I hired where I live to drive me around places; the driving me "around" places individual also proved disastrous (but that's a different story). Anyway, with the lady who was his friend I hired to stay with me paying her cash, I caught her in the act of stealing from me as she was leaving. Just a couple of months ago, when I filed my taxes, the IRS informed my accountant that they were already filed, meaning I am now the victim of identity theft (and still not finished with all the paperwork, which could very well have "hidden surprises" awaiting me.) I am virtually certain the identity theft occurred either:1) by the woman who stayed with me overnight as I slept/came off of the anesthesia, and who could easily have found my social and DOB in my papers; or 2) another healthcare worker who did steal a debit card (fortunately cancelled in time before she used it) and may well have also found access to my ID items when I was in the shower.

It's a cruel, cruel world.

This should have been discussed with you long before the day of surgery.
This should have been discussed with you when they asked who will be taking you home after surgery.
This is standard practice.
Now I will admit I have had surgery and while I did get a ride to and from I did not tell them that there would be no one with me for the next 24 hours.
They are not going to follow you home and make sure that there is someone there.
You are not hooked up to a lie detector when they ask you if someone will be with you.
But for legal reasons they have to ask. Up to you if you tell the truth or not.
(I will say for one surgery, Macular Hole repair, I did have my sister stay with me for a week as I was unable to stand upright, I had to be face down for minimum 7 days)

I just had a colonoscopy with the same requirements.

You can't drive if you've been under anesthesia, and you also can do some dumb things while feeling normal but in reality you're still a bit loopy.

Yes, this is normal. I am amazed they didn't tell you until the day of surgery. Is there a friend you can call on? A neighbor who will take you home and agree to be "on call for 24 hours?" If not they may insist you stay 24 hours.

We have a school of nursing in our universities and can usually engage a student to pick you up, stay at the outpatient surgery during your procedure, drive you home and stay with you in your home overnight for a reasonable fee. We see it mostly with eye surgeries and other tests or minor surgeries.