Your care and consideration for the patient does not need to end once he or she leaves the hospital

• Bring a special meal to his or her home (Make sure it fits in with any medical dietary guidelines)

• Help the person reconnect with people they may have fallen out of touch with while in the hospital. (Offer to set up Skype chats, for example, if he or she is still resting at home)

• Ask what you can do to help them out and have some suggestions ready to offer them

Remember - Although you may wish to express your gratitude for a particular doctor or nurse who seemed to go above and beyond in caring for your patient, health care professionals are not able to receive monetary gifts. If you feel that you must do something, a general gift for the nurses' station is OK. (Think fruit basket or fresh flowers!)