Navigating The Transition Home From Hospital
Supporting a loved one as they transition from hospital care to home after treatment for an eating disorder can be incredibly challenging. The journey often brings feelings of overwhelm, frustration, fear and confusion for parents and carers, and at times can be traumatic. While hospitalisation plays a critical role in stabilising a loved one’s health, coming home can feel like stepping into the unknown. Recovery doesn’t end at discharge – it continues at home, and your support is a key part of that process.
To help you feel more prepared and supported, Fill The Gap Program Manager Elise Wales and Counsellor Kellie Hansen have put together some strategies and suggestions.
Taking care of yourself
One of the most important, yet often overlooked, aspects of caring for a loved one with an eating disorder is taking care of yourself. Caring for a loved one through this time can be emotionally, mentally and physically exhausting. It’s essential to make time for your own wellbeing. Here are some ways to look after yourself:
Join the EDFA Facebook group for connection and support from others going through similar experiences
Access EDFA’s free online counselling service Fill The Gap, or EDFA’s free online support groups
Build in daily self-care – ensure you get enough sleep, joyful movement, social connection and reduce stress
Practice self-compassion – feelings of guilt and self-blame are common. Acknowledge that you are doing your best and be kind to yourself, just as you would with a loved family member or friend.
Establish a community-based treatment team early
Before your loved one leaves the hospital, it is important to have a treatment team in place in the community.
Community-based treatment can be delivered through both public and private health services. If accessing private treatment, your loved one may be eligible for Medicare rebates through an Eating disorder Treatment and Management Plan (EDP), Mental Health Care Plan (MHCP) or Chronic Disease Management Plan (CDMP). Speak with your GP to determine the most suitable plan based on your loved one’s needs. Learn more about different treatment settings here.
At a minimum, the treatment team should include:
A medical practitioner (i.e., GP, Paediatrician, Physician, Psychiatrist) to monitor physical health, including vital signs, weight (if appropriate), blood work, and overall wellbeing.
A mental health professional: This is an umbrella term for professions who can provide evidence-based psychological treatment for eating disorders (e.g., psychologist, social worker, occupational therapist, counsellor, mental health nurse, nurse practitioner, psychotherapist). ANZAED’s online directory can assist you in finding a qualified clinician.
Additional team members may include:
A dietitian
Other medical specialists (e.g., gastroenterologists, cardiologists, endocrinologists)
Peer or recovery support
Other health professionals (e.g., physiologists, physiotherapists, speech pathologists)
Learn more about treatment teams here.
Speak with a hospital Social Worker or call the Butterfly Foundation’s national helpline (1800 334673) for guidance on establishing a treatment team for your loved one.
For those needing more intensive support post-discharge, the Butterfly Foundation’s Next Steps Outpatient Program offers free online support based on CBT-E and DBT approaches after hospital treatment for an eating disorder. Available only for people aged 16 years and over, the progam includes one-on-one psychology and dietetic sessions, peer support, meal support, group sessions, and weekly learning and support sessions for families and carers.
Create a home environment to support recovery
Small, thoughtful changes at home can make a big difference in creating a recovery-oriented environment. Consider the following:
- Keep meal and snack times consistent (mirroring hospital routine can be helpful)
- Plan meals and groceries in advance
- Talk with your loved one about triggers and how to manage them together
- Minimise body-checking triggers (e.g., cover mirrors, remove scales, triggering clothing)
- Avoid diet-talk and weight-focused conversations
- Create a calm and predictable routine to reduce anxiety
- Encourage rest and reduce unnecessary expectations
Repairing your relationship
Coming home from hospital marks a new phase – one that can be emotionally intense and full of uncertainty. You might feel relief and exhaustion, while your loved one may feel overwhelmed, mistrustful, or disoriented. It’s common and normal for relationships to feel strained during this time. Focus on:
- Emotional safety and connection beyond food and body concerns
- Rituals of comfort – watching a show together, lighting a candle at dinner, or enjoying a sunset together
- Compassionate repair when things go wrong – because they will, and that’s ok
Understanding the challenges after hospital
It’s natural to feel relieved when your loved one looks physically healthier – but remember, weight restoration is not the same as psychological recovery. In fact, this stage can often be one of the most mentally challenging.
Your loved one may:
- Feel heightened anxiety and distress around food and body changes
- Feel overwhelmed without the structure and support of the hospital environment
- Be grieving the loss of the eating disorder as a coping mechanism, even while wanting to recover
These experiences are common. Try to hold space for the emotions that arise without trying to “fix” them right away. Simple, validating responses like “I’m here. I see this is hard. You don’t have to go through this alone” go a long way. Avoid well-meaning comments like “you look healthy” or “you seem so much better” – these can be experienced as invalidating or triggering.
Learn the signs of lapse and relapse
Recovery isn’t linear. It’s helpful to know the early signs that your loved one may be struggling, such as increased isolation, withdrawal from mealtimes, or heightened body image distress. Recognising these early signs allows you to offer gentle, timely support. For a deeper understanding, read our blog post on lapse vs. relapse and how to respond.
The role of the EDFA Hospital Liaison Officer in Brisbane
While healthcare providers play a key role in supporting your loved one’s recovery, EDFA’s new hospital liaison officer based in Brisbane provides carer lived experience support. They understand the emotional, psychological, and practical challenges you face, and can offer the support and guidance you need during this critical period.
A heartfelt thank you to the EDFA support group for generously sharing your experiences. Your words deeply informed and inspired the creation of this blog.
Resources/readings:
EDFA’s Looking after yourself information
National Eating Disorders Collaboration has some resources for families and carers
About Kellie Hansen
Kellie is an Accredited Mental Health Social Worker and credentialed eating disorder clinician with over ten years of experiencing working in mental health. She brings both professional experience and lived experience of eating disorder recovery. Kellie offers a trauma-informed, compassionate and non-judgemental space for carers aged 10 years+, providing practical tools, guidance and support.
If you’d like to learn more about diet culture, how to model balanced attitudes and behaviours, or explore other strategies to support your loved one’s recovery, our Fill The Gap counsellors are here to help. Fill The Gap counsellors offer free, one-on-one online counselling to support carers in navigating the challenges of caring for a loved one with an eating disorder or disordered eating concerns.
EDFA’s Fill The Gap counselling service offer free, one-on-one online counselling to support carers in navigating the challenges of caring for a loved one with an eating disorder or disordered eating concerns.
Please contact Administrative Assistant Bailey Wightman on 03 9125 5670 or email bailey.wightman@edfa.org.au if you need support accessing the service.
About Eating Disorders Families Australia
Eating Disorders Families Australia (EDFA) is the only national organisation solely for carers and families of those with an eating disorder. EDFA provides support, EDucation, advocacy, and FREE online counselling services and annual membership. EDFA has a private Facebook forum, providing a safe place for eating disorder carers and family members to share experiences, seek advice and assistance, and find hope.