If you're going into hospital there are some things you may need to think about to prepare for your stay and your return home.

If you currently receive care and support services from us please contact us to let us know so we can suspend your services until you return home. If you later find out your hospital stay has been cancelled or changed, let us know so that your normal services continue.

Welfare benefits while in hospital

If you are going to be in hospital and receive certain benefits you will need to let the Department for Work and Pensions know.

Home security

To make sure your home is secure while you are in hospital, you should:

• ask somebody to check on your house from time to time to make sure it is secure - they can also remove any post and make sure it is not visible from outside
• cancel your newspaper or milk deliveries
• check your home insurance to see whether the terms change if the house is unoccupied for a certain period of time

Dementia

When a person with dementia has to go to hospital it often requires plans and preparation. The Alzheimers society have created a guide to help you through this process if your or the person you care for has dementia.

Pet care

Our service directory contains information about providers of pet care and dog walking services.

The Cinnamon Trust and some other pet care companies can arrange to foster, feed or walk pets while you are in hospital.