My dad recently went through a difficult transition: from the ER to the hospital to rehab and then home, all as a result of passing out due to orthostatic hypotension (falling blood pressure when standing or stretching). These movements from place to place and practitioner to practitioner are called “care transitions” and occur as a patient’s needs change. Unfortunately, handing a patient off from one team to another is not something that’s been perfected in our healthcare system. Since a majority of care transitions occur among seniors who may experience significant physical or cognitive challenges, having a spouse, family member or friend who can advocate for them is crucial to their recovery. For my dad’s sake, thank goodness we were there. After three nights in the hospital, my dad was transferred to a rehabilitation center, a place where he could receive physical and occupational therapy and nursing care to regain his strength before he returned home. My mom and my sister...