A broken hip is a turning point more often than families expect. Surgery usually happens within a day or two of the fall, and most patients then move to a short-term rehab stint - but a meaningful share of older adults who fracture a hip don't return to their prior living situation afterward, because the combination of reduced mobility and fall risk changes what "safe at home" means. The honest answer to "will Mom go back to her apartment?" is usually "we'll know more in about 30 days," not "yes" or "no" on day one.
The typical timeline
- Day 0-2: surgery, usually within 24-48 hours of the fracture.
- Days 2-5: hospital recovery, then discharge planning begins.
- Weeks 1-4: short-term rehab (skilled nursing facility or inpatient rehab), often Medicare-covered for a qualifying stay, focused on weight-bearing and mobility.
- Around day 30: the real decision point - does function return enough to go home, or is a higher level of ongoing support needed?
What determines the answer
- How much weight-bearing and independent transfer ability came back during rehab
- Fall risk going forward - a second fracture is a serious concern the care team will weigh heavily
- Whether a spouse or family member can realistically provide the level of support needed at home
- The home's layout - stairs, bathroom safety, distance to help
How we help during this window
We start looking at options the moment rehab begins, not after day 30 - assisted living or memory care communities with current openings, in-home care agencies if a return home looks likely, and realistic 2026 pricing so the choice isn't made blind. There's no cost to start that search early, and starting early is what keeps you from making a rushed decision on discharge day.
Questions worth asking the rehab team
Before day 30 arrives, ask the rehab facility directly: what functional level are they projecting by discharge, do they recommend a specific type of setting afterward, and would they flag a return home as unsafe given the current trajectory. Their clinical read, paired with our knowledge of what's actually available and licensed nearby, usually produces a better decision than either alone.
