A 78-year-old patient is scheduled for transition to home after treatment for heart disease. The patient's spouse, who has chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, plans to care for the patient at home. The spouse says that their grown children, who live nearby, will help. The best approach to discharge planning is to:
arrange nursing home placement for the couple.
consult the spouse's healthcare provider about the spouse's ability to care for the patient.
contact the children to ascertain their commitment to help.
discuss community resources with the spouse and offer to make referrals.