A nurse is preparing discharge teaching for a client who has Crohn's disease and a new ileostomy. Which of the following community resources should the nurse include in the teaching?

Discharge planning for a client with Crohn's disease and a new ileostomy focuses on promoting safe self-care, preventing complications, and supporting adjustment to lifestyle changes. Clients must learn stoma care, skin protection, pouch management, and recognition of complications such as dehydration or infection. Community resources are important in helping the client transition safely from hospital to home. Support services should match the client’s immediate postoperative and long-term self-management needs. A. Long-term care facility placement is generally reserved for clients who are unable to perform activities of daily living independently or who require continuous skilled nursing care. A client with a new ileostomy usually needs education and temporary support rather than permanent institutional care. Therefore, this is not the most appropriate discharge resource. B. Rehabilitation center services are mainly indicated for clients recovering from major physical disabilities, neurological injury, or conditions requiring intensive physical or occupational therapy. Although adjustment to an ileostomy requires education, it does not typically require inpatient rehabilitation services. This does not best address ostomy management needs. C. Visiting nurse services are the most appropriate resource because they provide home-based follow-up care, education, and assessment after discharge. Nurses can evaluate stoma healing, monitor for complications, reinforce teaching, and support the client’s confidence in managing the ileostomy independently. This promotes safe recovery and reduces the risk of readmission. D. Hospice care services are intended for clients with terminal illness who require end-of-life comfort-focused care rather than curative treatment. A client with Crohn’s disease and a new ileostomy is generally being managed for ongoing health and improved quality of life, not end-of-life care. Therefore, hospice is not appropriate in this situation.