Vive Health14 x 13 Inch Ice Wrap
Vive Health28 x 16 Inch Bath Mat
Vive Health3 Loop Hammer Toe Splint
Vive Health3 Wheel Mobility Scooter Battery Pack (Pair)
Vive Health4 Wheel Mobility Scooter
Vive Health5 Level Therapy Bar Kit
Vive Health22 x 22 Inch Shower Mat
Vive Health3 in 1 Padded Commode
Vive Health3 Wheel Mobility Scooter
Vive Health4 Wheel Air Frame Walker
Vive Health4 Wheel Mobility Scooter with Front Basket
Vive Health843 OA Knee Brace Replacement Pads Set, Left
Vive Health26 Inch Oval Bath Mat
Vive Health3 Layer Toe Separators
Vive Health3 Wheel Mobility Scooter Basket
Vive Health4 Wheel Air Frame Walker with Bag
Vive Health5 Inch Alternating Pressure Pad
Vive Health843 OA Knee Brace Replacement Pads Set, RightPreparing a home for someone coming back from the hospital
Hearing that your loved one is coming home is a joy. It can also set off a scramble. Will they manage the front steps? Can they get to the bathroom? Where will they sleep? Discharge can come quickly, so starting early, even while your loved one is still in the hospital or rehab, makes the homecoming smoother.
Start with the care team
Medicare's discharge planning checklist, written for patients and their caregivers, says that during a stay in a hospital, nursing home or other care setting, the doctor and staff will work with the patient to plan for discharge, and that the patient and caregiver are important members of the planning team. It suggests using the checklist throughout the stay. Among its items:
- Ask if medical equipment will be needed, such as a walker, and who will arrange for its delivery.
- Ask whether your loved one is ready for activities such as bathing, dressing, using the bathroom and climbing stairs, and discuss the ones they will need help with.
- Ask the staff to show you and your loved one how to do any tasks that require special skills, and then practice them.
- Ask for written discharge instructions and a summary of current health status.
The checklist also has a section just for caregivers: make sure you can give the person the help they need, ask whether you need any education or training, and get prescriptions and run errands before the person is discharged so you will not have to make extra trips.
If you can, ask a therapist which specific pieces of equipment they recommend, with any sizes or features. That list makes shopping much simpler.
The way in
Think about the trip from the car to the bed. Are there steps? A high threshold? A narrow door? A short-term solution can be enough. For a raised threshold, Harmar lists its Rubber Threshold Ramp for thresholds up to 4 inches high. For steps, browse ramps, and plan for a second person to help the first time.
Where they will sleep
If the bedroom is upstairs and stairs are not yet safe, set up a temporary sleeping space on the main floor. Put it close to a bathroom if you can. Follow the National Institute on Aging's advice for the bedroom: night lights and light switches close to the bed, a flashlight within reach, and a well-charged phone nearby.
If getting up from a chair is hard after surgery or illness, a lift recliner may help with standing during the day.
The bathroom
The bathroom is often where a returning patient needs the most help. Consider having these ready before the homecoming:
- A raised toilet seat or a toilet safety rail, if sitting down and standing up is hard.
- A shower chair or tub transfer bench, so bathing can happen seated.
- A folding commode for the bedside, if the bathroom is far. Vive says its commode works at the bedside or over most standard and elongated toilets.
- Nonskid mats or strips on wet surfaces and a night light, as NIA recommends.
See all bathroom safety equipment.
Getting around
Ask the care team what your loved one should use to walk or be moved at first. Common options include a walker or rollator or a transport wheelchair pushed by a caregiver. Then clear a path for it through the main rooms: move rugs, cords and low tables, as NIA advises.
Order early
Equipment takes time to ship. Faith Mobility ships to the lower 48 states and DC, with free shipping on orders over $500 and $15 shipping under $500, and we cover the sales tax. See shipping by state for your area. If you know what you need, order as soon as the care team has given you a likely discharge window, so the essentials are in place when your loved one walks in the door.
Help at home
Some people need help at home for a while after a hospital stay. NIA notes that in-home services may be short-term, for someone who is recovering from an operation, for example, or long-term. The hospital's social worker or discharge planner can explain options. The Eldercare Locator can connect you with local services for older adults, and family and friends can take shifts for meals, errands and company.
The first few days
- Keep the discharge instructions and medication list somewhere everyone can see them.
- Plan rest. Coming home is tiring.
- Stay close for the first bath, the first trip up the stairs and the first night.
- Write down questions for the follow-up appointment as they come up.
- Notice what is still hard, and adjust the setup.
And take a breath yourself. You do not need a perfect house, just a safe and welcoming one.
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