Recovering from hospitalization can be a long process. Individuals require a high level of care and comfort to achieve a full recovery and return to their daily living.
Family members enhance the recovery process by creating the right home environment and ensuring that all needs are met.
Understanding how to prepare your home for a loved one’s return from the hospital makes it easy to provide the care they need. By knowing what to consider and how to provide the best care, your loved one can have comfort and peace of mind.
What to Consider for Home Care
There are many health issues that require an extended recovery period at home. In addition to heart attacks, strokes, and physical injuries, your loved one may also be recovering from the procedures required to treat these issues.
Recovery from surgery presents additional health risks if your loved one isn’t cared for properly. Addressing physical discomfort, fatigue, and the risk of infection prevents common issues related to the recovery process.
Also, family members may be required to administer basic medical tasks such as medication, monitoring, and caring for wounds. This can be overwhelming for caregivers who aren’t fully prepared or educated to meet these responsibilities.
Family members and other home caregivers can access the educational resources they need from hospitals and professional healthcare practitioners. Finding support groups and services for caregivers is invaluable to providing the best home care environment.
Providing the Right Home Care
The most important thing to consider when preparing your home for a loved one’s return from the hospital are the instructions provided by the medical care team.
In addition, keeping future appointments, prescriptions, and other care needs in order makes the caregiving process easier.
For individuals who are at an increased risk of falling, homes should be cleared of any objects that may cause them to trip. Walkways and doorways should be kept free from any obstructions. Doormats and rugs can also add to the risk of slips and falls. Stable objects that can assist your loved one with mobility can be placed in key areas to further prevent any falls.
Consider what items will be needed on a regular basis while caring for your loved one at home. These should be kept in areas that are easily accessible.
Items such as mobile devices, remote controls, books, glasses, and utensils should be organized to create a more comfortable and efficient home care space.
Avoid placing these and other items in areas that require reaching up high or bending down low. These could cause issues related to pain or cause further injury.
Finding Help for Caregivers
Once you’ve prepared your home, you should also make sure to have the proper support you need to provide care to your loved one.
Hiring a skilled in-home healthcare provider can give you the flexibility you need to meet your own needs and avoid feeling overwhelmed.
A professional caregiver can address more challenging tasks such as those related to personal hygiene, dressing, and dental health care. These caregivers are specially trained to provide high-quality care with compassion that maintains your loved one’s sense of dignity and independence.
The right care at home will result in an efficient recovery process that makes it easy for your loved ones to get back to their normal everyday activities. Creating a home that’s conducive to this process is essential to the long-term wellbeing of both your loved one and you.
