Thriving After Hospital Discharge: Your Guide to a Safer, More Comfortable Recovery at Home.

11 Dec Thriving After Hospital Discharge: Your Guide to a Safer, More Comfortable Recovery at Home.

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Transitioning home after a hospital stay can feel overwhelming, but with proper preparation and support, you can set yourself up for a safer, smoother recovery. This guide covers what to expect, how to prepare your home, and how to navigate common challenges to maximize your independence and healing.

What to Expect After Hospital Discharge

Every recovery journey is unique, but there are common themes to be aware of. You may experience fatigue, weakness, pain, or limited mobility, depending on your condition or the type of surgery you had. For example, after joint replacement or other orthopedic type surgeries, you will need to monitor the incision. You will also have a set progression of activities and exercises that you can do. It is common to have pain especially with increasing range of motion after joint replacement. After a neurological event, safety and balance are a main focus. There is generally not a limit to how hard you can push yourself, though it is important to be safe and monitor heart rate, blood pressure, weakness, and tone. After a cardiac surgery or event, there IS a limit to how hard you can push yourself. There are generally strict guidelines for heart rate, blood pressure, shortness of breath, and level of exertion. You may not be able to take care of yourself as you could before and may require a caregiver, drop-in support from friends or family, or more frequent rest breaks. It will probably take some time and healing before you can return to your normal routine, job, or level of activity. You may experience feelings of anxiety, frustration, confusion, or even sadness. This is especially common if you are having to adapt to new physical limitations. Expect regular follow-up appointments with your doctor, physical / occupational / speech therapists and possible home health visits. Understanding these challenges allow you to plan effectively and avoid surprises.

Setting Your Home Up for Success

A safe and supportive environment is crucial for recovery. Here are some key steps to prepare your home:

Declutter Pathways: Remove rugs, cords, or furniture that could create tripping hazards. Keep walkways clear and wide enough for needed assistive devices or equipment, move furniture if needed. Make sure pathways are well lit.

Set up Essentials on One Level: If possible, arrange bedroom, bathroom, and kitchen essentials on the main level to minimize the use of stairs.

Install Safety Aids: Install grab bars in the shower and by the commode, use non-slip mats in tub and shower, install handrails at stairs. Make sure you have all needed medical equipment such as bed side commodes, shower chairs, bed rails, and rolling walkers.

Accessible Storage: Keep frequently used items within easy reach to avoid bending or overreaching.

Potential Complications to Watch For

Your recovery can be disrupted by certain complications. Be alert and contact your doctor if you have any of these symptoms:

Signs of Infection: Angry redness, warmth, swelling, or discharge around incision site.

Blood Clots: Signs are swelling, warmth, or pain in lower legs, though blood clots can occur in other areas.

Dehydration or Malnutrition: Ensure that you are getting adequate fluid intake. Nutrition, especially protein, is important for healing.

Falls: One of the most significant risks after discharge from the hospital, falls can cause re-injury, new injuries, setbacks, and delays in recovery. More than 80% of falls are due to recent discharge from the hospital.

Changes to Vitals: It is a red flag if you have significant changes to cognition or memory, heart rate, blood pressure (high or low), glucose levels, or pain.

Report any concerns to your healthcare provider immediately.

Common Mobility Challenges and Solutions

Many people experience mobility issues after discharge, such as difficulty walking, standing, transferring, or navigation stairs. You can help your mobility and decrease your risk for falls by using an assistive device. Canes, walkers, and wheelchairs can improve balance and stability. Ensure that they are properly ordered, fitted and trained by a professional. Safely moving from bed to chair or from sit to stand is important. A physical therapist can teach you proper methods prior to leaving the hospital. If you or your caregiver still have questions about how to safely perform transfers, contact us at My Rehab Answers for a 1:1 video consultation to review transfer techniques. Be sure to pace yourself. Overdoing it can lead to setbacks or falls. Take your time and listen to your body. Rest when needed.

Risk for Falls: Prevention is Key

As mentioned earlier, falls are a leading cause of re-hospitalization. Minimize this risk by wearing non-slip and appropriate footwear, use assistive devices and medical equipment appropriately and consistently, avoid uneven surfaces or stairs without railings, listen to your body (pay attention to when your body is weak, dizzy, or tired), have someone with you who can help out at least for the first week, and don’t try to do too much.

Equipment Needs for Safe Recovery

Investing in the right equipment can make daily life safer and more manageable. Adjustable beds and bed rails (with floor supports to increase safety like the LIUQIBAX Bed Rail for Elderly Adults with double grip) help with positioning and easy transfers in and out of bed. Shower chairs, bed side commodes, or raised toilet seats can help with bathroom safety and transfers. Reachers (like the RMS featherweight which also has a hook to assist with dressing) are great for reducing strain and helping keep balance when picking up objects. They can be velcro’d to your walker, cane, or wheelchair. Your physical or occupational therapist and your discharge team should recommend specific items based on your needs, if you have other questions about equipment, you can email My Rehab Answers at questions@myrehabanswers.com.

The Importance of Support and Caregiver Training

Recovery is rarely a solo journey. Support from family, friends, or professional caregivers is critical. Caregivers benefit greatly from training in proper lifting and transfer techniques to avoid injury, monitoring signs of complications, and creating a routine that balances safety, rest, and activity. Hiring a caregiver or consulting with professionals experienced in mobility strategies ensures your care is not only safe but also effective. My Rehab Answers has experience in transfers and caregiver support, contact us for a consultation.

How We Can Help

Our expertise lies in helping individuals stay safe, successful at home, and confident after recent hospitalization. From tailored home assessments and equipment use to caregiver support and training, we are here to ensure your recovery is smooth, safe, and comfortable. We can help you set up your home with a video Zoom or Google Meet consultation, discuss red flags and if you really do need to contact your doctor or go to the Emergency Room via phone consultation or email (allow 24 hours for response), or provide tips for caregivers.

Let us be a part of your healing journey. If you have questions about discharge instructions, how to safely manage in your home, or caregiver responsibilities, please contact My Rehab Answers for a 1:1 video or phone consultation or email us at: questions@myrehabanswers.com. Check out our website and resources page for more help and information.