How it works
The first 30 days at home
The month after a hospital stay is the hardest part for most families. Here is what happens in that month, and who does what.
Families bringing someone home
KISOP is for families caring for an adult who is coming home after a hospital stay. We will start with one hospital, for patients going home after a stay for heart failure, in English and Spanish. We will add hospitals and conditions as we learn.
What happens, and when
- Before discharge
We meet at the hospital
A nurse or case manager tells your family about KISOP. A helper meets you at the hospital or calls you. Together you start the book with the discharge papers and book the follow-up visit before you leave.
- Day 1
The book goes home
The helper helps you put the new medicine list in the book and write down your questions for the pharmacist. Your pharmacist or nurse goes through the medicines with you. The book goes where everyone will see it, usually the kitchen table.
- Days 2 and 3
A visit at home
The helper visits. You fill in the helping-hands page and the warning signs together. The helper checks what your health plan already covers, such as rides, meals after a hospital stay, and supplies.
- Week 1
Daily notes and the first visit
Someone writes one line in the daily notes each day. The follow-up visit happens in the first week or two, and the book goes along.
- Weeks 2 to 4
A weekly check-in
The helper checks in by phone or in person each week. They ask how the family caregiver is doing too, and help others take a turn.
- Day 30
A last visit
Your family keeps the book and a copy of every page. You know the warning signs, and you know who to call from here.
A helper from your own community
Helpers are people from your own community. Many have cared for someone in their own family. KISOP trains them and pays them for their time.
A helper can
- sit with you to set up the book
- help you write down questions for your pharmacist or nurse
- help you call the clinic, the pharmacy and the health plan
- find rides, meals and other help you already qualify for
- check on the family caregiver, and help others take a turn
A helper does not
- give medical advice, or handle, sort or give medicines
- replace your nurse, doctor or home health aide
- keep copies of your papers
Many small jobs, shared
Most families have more help nearby than they think: a neighbor who would walk with her, a cousin who could drive on Thursdays. The helping-hands page makes it easy to ask for one small thing at a time and to see what is still open.
Relatives who live far away can get a short update each week by text or email, if the family wants that.
- Ana, her daughter, 20 minutes away: rides and dinners on Mondays and Thursdays
- Gloria, her neighbor two doors down: a walk on Wednesdays
- Miguel, her son in another state: a call every Sunday
- Rosa, the KISOP helper: the first 30 days
Helping handsThis week
| Day | Who | What |
|---|---|---|
| Mon | Ana | groceries, dinner |
| Tue | aide, 9 to 12 | bath, notes in book |
| Wed | Gloria | walk at 10 |
| Thu | Ana | ride to follow-up, 10:30 |
| Fri | Luis (Gloria's son) | dinner at 5, dishes |
| Sat | church friends | lunch, sit with her |
| Sun | Miguel | calls at 5 |
Can't make it? Text Ana the night before: 555-0137
Using the help you already have
Recovery comes with costs nobody mentions at discharge: supplies, rides and meals. The helper checks what your health plan already pays for. Many plans cover rides to appointments and meals for a few weeks after a hospital stay.
For supplies you buy often, families on the same street can split a bulk order and share the receipt, so everyone pays the lower price.
Your papers stay with you
The book stays in your home, and the copies stay with your family. Helpers do not take copies. We never sell information about anyone, and there are no ads on anything we make. Our Privacy Policy has the details.
Questions families ask
Do we need a smartphone or a computer?
No. Everything works on paper. A phone helps with photos and texts, but you don't need one.
Is this medical care?
No. Your doctors, nurses and pharmacists are in charge of care. We help your family organize it and follow it at home. In an emergency, call 911.
What does it cost?
We are working to make it free for families. Ask whether it is available where you live yet, or sign up to receive a book when it is. Ask if it is available to you · Sign up to receive a book
Can we use the book without a helper?
Yes. The pages will be ready to print, and they work on their own.
Is it in Spanish?
Yes. Every page comes in English and Spanish, and every pilot will have helpers who speak Spanish.
Who runs KISOP?
Carmen Wiedenhoeft founded KISOP in Palo Alto, California. It is a project of Care Delivery Inc.