The trend toward early hospital discharge is increasingly shifting post-hospital care and responsibility to the home environment, making informal family carers essential for patient safety and recovery. Despite their vital role, the needs of family carers often go unnoticed or unmet. This qualitative study aimed to explore healthcare professionals' perspectives on the family carer’s role during discharge planning and to examine how well carer needs are identified and addressed within the Swedish healthcare system. Data were collected through interviews with 18 healthcare professionals (12 physicians and 6 nurses) at a medium-sized Swedish hospital. Additionally, eight family carers took part in semi-structured conversations to examine their lived experiences of the discharge process. Data were analyzed using qualitative content analysis. The findings reveal a discrepancy between formal policies and actual practices. While staff noted a lack of formal expectations for carers to take on medical duties, there was a widespread implicit reliance on their efforts, especially when patients declined municipal home care services. Staff from all three clinics reported that carers often assume an overwhelming amount of responsibility, which can sometimes lead to unsustainable home situations or re-admissions. Conversations with carers confirmed these findings; many reported feeling "abandoned" by the healthcare system and pressured into taking on burdensome responsibilities, sometimes at the expense of their own health. Additionally, routines for recognizing and supporting carer needs were generally found to be inconsistent or absent across the clinics. To provide truly person-centered care, family carers must be involved based on their willingness and ability, not on implicit organizational expectations. The findings highlight an urgent need for clearer organizational guidelines, well-defined boundaries of responsibility between hospitals and municipalities, and improved early collaboration. Visibility and proactive support for informal carers are essential to create a sustainable, cohesive care chain and ensure safe, person-centered care transitions.