Article updated on May 15, 2026 — verified official sources (CARSAT, service-public.fr, pour-les-personnes-agees.gouv.fr, CNSA).
Arranging home care after an elderly parent is discharged from the hospital requires taking action even before they leave the hospital: contact the hospital’s social worker, apply for the ARDH through CARSAT if your parent is a retiree under the general social security system, and determine whether home-based hospital care (HAD) or home health care (SSIAD) is necessary based on their health condition.
This guide outlines the steps to take three days before discharge, on the day of discharge, and seven days after discharge, so that returning home doesn’t become a second crisis.
3 Days to Go — Steps to Take Before Discharge from the Hospital
Your first point of contact: the hospital social worker
This is the cornerstone of the process. The hospital social worker is familiar with all the post-discharge support services and can set them in motion before your parent leaves the hospital. Ask to meet with her as soon as the discharge date is known—don’t wait until the last day.
In particular, she can: submit the ARDH application to the pension fund, coordinate the establishment of a home-based nursing care service (SSIAD) or a home-based hospital care service (HAD) with the hospital physician, and notify social services if the family situation is complex.
ARDH: Assistance available within 48 hours
ARDH — Definition of ARDH: Assistance with Returning Home after Hospitalization. Temporary assistance provided by CARSAT to retirees under the general pension scheme who are classified as GIR 5 or 6, capped at €1,800 for a maximum of three months.
Eligibility requirements: You must be a retiree under the general social security system (or MSA, RSI), be at least 55 years old, and have been assessed as GIR 5 or 6. The ARDH cannot be combined with the APA (GIR 1 to 4). If your parent is already receiving the APA, you must apply for the emergency APA (€1,040.17/month in 2026 (source: CNSA, APA rates as of January 1, 2026)).
What ARDH funds: home care (shopping, meals, housekeeping, personal care), telecare, meal delivery, accompanied transportation, overnight care, and safety kits (grab bars, toilet seat risers). Maximum amount: €1,800. Duration: up to 3 months. Beneficiary contribution: 10% to 75% depending on income (source: CARSAT Pays de la Loire).
| Important deadline: The application for ARDH must be submitted BEFORE discharge from the hospital, or no later than 48 hours after returning home. The hospital’s social services department fills out the form and sends it to the pension fund. |
Home Health Care (HAD) or Home-Based Health Care (SSIAD): What the Doctor Prescribes
The HAD (Home Hospitalization) is reserved for complex medical situations—extensive wound care, parenteral nutrition, palliative care, and intensive rehabilitation. Covered at 80% by Medicare (100% for long-term illnesses). 24-hour on-call service.
The SSIAD (Home Nursing Care Service) provides routine nursing care and personal hygiene assistance. By doctor’s order. Fully covered by Medicare. If your relative was already receiving care from an SSIAD prior to hospitalization: their spot is reserved if the hospital stay does not exceed 21 days (source: service-public.fr).
| Criterion | HAD | Home Health Care |
| Type of care | Complex medical procedures | General Nursing + Hygiene |
| Statute of limitations | Hospital physician | Primary care physician |
| Penalty | 24 hours a day | Hours worked |
| Coverage | 80% (100% for ALD) | 100 % |
| Duration | Varies by prescription | 1 month, renewable |
| Public | Intensive care | Elderly people in need of care |
Preparing Your Home Before You Return
- Medical equipment: hospital bed, walker, wheelchair if needed — to be ordered with a prescription from the hospital physician
- Remote monitoring: can be installed in 24 to 48 hours, costing €15 to €35 per month depending on the provider
- Home safety: Remove non-slip mats, install grab bars in the toilet and bathroom, and ensure the hallway is well-lit at night
Day 0 — The day of discharge
Documents to pick up before leaving the hospital
Before your family member is discharged, be sure to collect the following immediately: the hospital discharge summary (to be given to the primary care physician), the discharge orders (medications, nursing care, physical therapy if prescribed), and the direct contact information for the home hospital care (HAD) or home health care (SSIAD) service if follow-up care has been arranged.
The first point of contact: your primary care physician
Contact the patient’s primary care physician on the day of discharge. The physician must receive the hospital discharge summary, review the new prescriptions, and schedule a home visit within 48 to 72 hours if the patient’s condition warrants it.
Day 7 — Consolidate the plan in the following week
Reassess the actual level of independence
The first week often reveals a reality that differs from what was anticipated at the hospital. If your parent needs assistance with basic daily activities beyond simple recovery—which corresponds to GIR levels 1 through 4—you should immediately submit an application for APA to the Departmental Council.
Key stakeholders to engage
When a patient returns home after a hospital stay, it quickly involves a number of professionals: home health care services (SSIAD or HAD), the primary care physician, a private nurse (IDEL), a home health aide (SAD or SAAD), a physical therapist, meal delivery services, and telecare. Coordinating this entire process on one’s own is one of the most common causes of burnout among caregivers.
What you can delegate
Coordinating 4 to 6 service providers from your home office, especially when you’re just getting back home, is one of the main causes of caregiver burnout. This is exactly what an Autonomia Advisor takes care of.
When you’re discharged from the hospital, your Advisor—who can be reached within 48 hours, with priority given to emergency situations—will:
- contacts the hospital social worker directly to initiate the ARDH process before discharge
- arranges for medical equipment, in-home care, and telecare within 48 hours
- coordinates with the attending physician, the home health care service, or the hospital-based home care service
- checks eligibility for APA and prepares the application if a loss of independence occurs
- conducts a progress review on day 15 to adjust the plan
For practical implementation, it relies on the Oui Care network (over 900 branches in France), Silver Alliance (partners in healthy aging), and audited local service providers. You remain the son or daughter—not the caregiver.
The steps to take in order
Before the release (3 days to go):
- Meet with the hospital social worker as soon as the discharge date is known
- Have the social services initiate the ARDH process if your parent is a retiree under the general system with a GIR 5-6 classification (maximum timeframe: 48 hours after discharge)
- Ask the hospital physician whether home hospital care or home health care is necessary
- Order prescription medical equipment (hospital bed, walker, etc.)
- Set up a remote monitoring service (turnaround time: 24–48 hours; cost: €15–35 per month)
- Making your home safer: Remove rugs and install grab bars
The day of return (D0):
- Pick up the hospital discharge summary and discharge prescriptions
- Call your primary care physician the same day
- Make sure that home health care or in-home nursing care is properly arranged for the first few days
Within a week (D+7):
- Reassess the actual level of independence — if GIR 1–4: submit the APA application
- Contact CARSAT if ARDH was not initiated at the hospital (deadline: no later than 10 days after returning home)
FAQ
How do you arrange for an elderly person to return home after a hospital stay?
The return process consists of three steps: before discharge (3 days prior), initiate the ARDH process through the hospital social worker and determine whether home hospital care (HAD) or home nursing care (SSIAD) is necessary; on the day of discharge, collect the discharge prescriptions and call the primary care physician; within the following week (Day 7), reassess the actual level of independence and, if a lasting loss is confirmed, submit an application for APA.
What kind of assistance is available quickly after a hospital stay?
Three services are available within 48 hours of discharge. The ARDH benefit paid by CARSAT for retirees classified as GIR 5-6—maximum €1,800, duration 3 months; application must be submitted before or within 48 hours of discharge. Home healthcare (HAD) if complex medical care is required. Telecare, which can be set up within 24 to 48 hours for €15 to €35 per month.
What is the deadline for applying for ARDH after a hospital stay?
The application for ARDH must be submitted before discharge from the hospital through the social worker, or no later than 48 hours after returning home. This is the fastest form of assistance to obtain (payments are made within a few days for retirees under the general pension scheme in GIR 5-6).
My parent is being discharged from the hospital. Who should I contact first?
The hospital social worker, as soon as the discharge date is known. She can initiate the ARDH (CARSAT) process, coordinate the arrangement of home hospital care (HAD) or home nursing care (SSIAD) with the hospital physician, and notify social services if the situation is complex. The primary care physician should be contacted on the day of discharge.
My parent was already receiving APA benefits before being hospitalized. What should I do?
The ARDH does not apply—it is reserved for GIR 5 and 6 individuals who do not receive APA. Emergency APA may be granted: the amount is €1,040.17 per month in 2026 (source: CNSA, APA rates as of January 1, 2026). The existing APA assistance plan may also be revised if hospitalization has exacerbated the loss of independence.
What is the difference between HAD and SSIAD?
Home hospital care (HAD) provides complex medical care that would normally require hospitalization—with 24-hour on-call service. Home nursing care (SSIAD) provides routine nursing care and personal hygiene assistance. Both are covered by Medicare (source: service-public.fr).
Who should I contact first: the hospital, CARSAT, or my primary care physician?
First, contact the hospital social worker. She coordinates the necessary arrangements from within the hospital—including ARDH, HAD, and SSIAD—and can initiate the process before discharge. Call your primary care physician on the day you return home. CARSAT will only intervene directly if the ARDH request was not made at the hospital.
Sources
- CARSAT, ARDH program (carsat.fr; CARSAT Pays de la Loire for the 2026 ARDH scales)
- service-public.fr (HAD, SSIAD, and emergency APA forms)
- for-seniors.gouv.fr
- CNSA, 2026 Emergency APA Amounts (cnsa.fr)
- Health Insurance, PRADO Program (ameli.fr)
- Social Action and Family Code (legifrance.gouv.fr)
