How to Plan for Recovery After a Hospital Stay
Prevent common complictions that lead to a “round-trip” – hospital readmission!
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Proactive Care Partners are key to a safe and sound recovery after a hospital stay.
Once your loved one is home from the hospital, it’s important to keep an eye out for any signs of complications. This is a time when people tend to chalk up pains or medical concerns to “normal recovery.” Download and review our Recognize Recovery Setbacks checklist with your loved one DAILY for at least a month to catch any problems before they might turn into an emergency..
And remember:
- Don’t hesitate to call your loved one’s doctor about any problems that arise.
- Trust your gut. It’s okay to call about anything that “just doesn’t seem right.”
Little known fact: about 20% of patients end up back in the hospital within 30 days. Fortunately, with a little planning, you can help your loved one avoid a readmission.
Click here for symptoms to watch for as your loved one recovers after a hospital stay.
Don’t hesitate to call your loved one’s doctor about any problems that arise.
Download our checklist of recovery setback symptoms and be sure to go over it with your recovering loved one once daily for 30 days after returning home from the hospital.
Get medical help if you see these symptoms:
- chills
- extreme pain
- fast heartbeat
- shortness of breath
- bulging neck veins
- signs of fluid retention
(puffiness/weight gain of 2+ lbs. in 1-2 days)
- headache/migraine
- diarrhea
- nausea
- fast breathing
- coughing
- swelling in legs/arms
- body aches
- cramps
- no appetite
- blood in urine
- oozing/red sores, stitches
- open breaks in skin
- bumps, or rash
2. Create a Record of Medications Prescribed for Recovery After a Hospital Stay
In the hospital, there are about 13 steps involved in making sure a patient gets the correct medication — yet mistakes still occur! Download our Medicines to Take After Leaving the Hospital form to have a clear plan of what to take and when.
If your loved one’s home is in assisted living, memory support, long-term care or rehab, make doubly sure to:
- Fill in Medicines to Take After Leaving the Hospital.
- Share the spreadsheet with everyone involved in their care.
- Make copies for all staff.
- Notify all nursing supervisors of all medications taken the day of discharge and any changes to the medication regimen.
- Call to follow up and confirm all details.
How people can overdose soon after discharge from a hospital stay
- Patients are typically given a dose of medication before leaving the hospital.
- They may take another dose too soon by mistake if they’re in the habit of taking the medication before bed or their residential community administers medications on a schedule.
- The second dose, taken too early, can send them right back to the hospital.
Keep plenty of the Medicines to Take After Leaving the Hospital forms handy:
- Download and save to computer file folder.
- Print as many as you need using the landscape mode.
- Use standard printer paper (8.5″ x 11″).
- Print in color or choose black & white.
3. Arrange in Advance to Have Supplies on Hand for Recovery After a Hospital Stay
After a hospital stay, patients often need special supplies. It’s best to have these on hand before your loved one leaves the hospital. A nurse or case manager, or your loved one’s discharge planner, can fill you on on what your loved one will need in recovery after discharge.
Start with the Basics
- Thermometer.
- Call bell.
- Night light.
- Flashlight with new batteries.
- Extra batteries for TV remote.
- Weight scale.
- Non-skid socks, good-fitting
slippers. - Compression socks or stockings.
- Special menu items needed
Bedroom and Resting
- Bed rails.
- Foot stool.
- Head or neck supports.
- Foam cushions
(to prevent bed sores). - Heel cushions.
- “Doughnut” pillow.
- Disposable sheet protectors.
- Hospital bed.
- Sitz bath.
- Bed pan or portable urinal.
- Standing security pole.
Bathroom Supplies
- Grab rails.
- Shower seat.
- Non-skid bath mats or strips.
- Raised toilet seat.
- Disposable underwear.
- Night light.
Wound Care Supplies
- Bandages.
- Gauze.
- Tapes.
- Ostomy pouches, supplies.
- Barrier cream.
- Other ointments.
- Cleanser.
- Antibacterial soap, foam, or gel.
Medical Devices
- Blood pressure cuff.
- Thermometer.
- Diabetes test supplies.
- Glucose monitor.
- Insulin pump.
- CPAP machine.
- Peak flow meter.
- Apnea monitor.
- Room monitor.
- Medical alert phone service.
4. Plan Day-to-Day Responsibilities to Support Loved One’s Care During Recovery After a Hospital Stay
Put together a Care Team of volunteers to help with everyday tasks during your loved one’s recovery at home.
Potential Problems and Pitfalls after Leaving the Hospital
- Daily living activities can be a challenge.
- Getting proper nutrition is a worry.
- Managing responsibilities your loved one may have for others (children, pets, partners, work) can be challenging and cause anxiety.
- It’s a good time to organize help and pitch in!
Recruit family and friends to help so you don’t wear yourself out trying to do everything by yourself.
Download and use our form—Plan for Care After a Hospital Stay— to help you match people with responsibilities they are good at and available for. Share the completed form with all of your volunteers so that everyone knows who is doing what and when. Don’t forget to share a copy with your recovering loved one so they know who to expect at any given time.
Review these everyday tasks that a Care Team may need to manage for your loved one:
Phone Tasks
Driving Tasks
Home Care Tasks
Personal Care Tasks
Phone Tasks:
- Check in each day (in person or by video call) to monitor for positive signs of recovery or setbacks
- Schedule doctor appointments and follow-up tests
- Follow up on test results
- Arrange special support care and logistics (ex. wound care, home health, physical therapy)
- Facilitate conversations with employer as needed
Driving Tasks:
- Drive to doctor appointments and take notes
- Fill prescriptions
- Find and purchase or rent medical equipment as needed
- Shop for groceries and household essentials
Home Care Tasks:
- Safety-proof the home
- Manage money and pay bills
- Clean the home
- Plan and coordinate meals
- Yard maintenance, seasonal upkeep
- Take out garbage
- Get the mail
- Do laundry
Personal Care Tasks:
- Help with washing hair, showering, bathing, toothbrushing, dressing/undressing
- Help with walking or learning to use walking assists (cane, walker, wheelchair)
- Care for children, a spouse, pets, and other dependents
5. Safety-Proofing the Home
Especially if your recovering loved one is elderly, safety-proofing their home (if you haven’t done so already) is crucial to prevent devastating accidents in the home during or after recovery. Use the safety-proofing lists below to make sure you don’t miss anything. Download our checklist (shown) for quick reference throughout the safety-proofing process.
Safety-Proofing Supplies
It’s ideal to plan for your loved one’s home adjustments and supplies after a hospital stay early on. Talk to a case manager or discharge planner as soon as you can. They will fill you in on what to anticipate and what items you’ll need for a safe and sound recovery at home.
Most of these items can be ordered from Amazon or Walgreens online. They should arrive promptly enough so that you won’t have to spend precious time running from store to store.
Preventing falls is a top priority. Here’s what to buy:
- Non-slip rubber mat for the tub or shower
- Grab-bars in the shower and next to the toilet (towel bars are not strong or secure enough to handle any weight)
- Shower sponge with long handle
- Shower chair
- Elevated toilet seat
- Commode
- Hospital bed
- Hoyer lift (helps in/out of bed and chairs)
- Shoehorn with a long handle
- Sock aid to help put on socks
- Dry shampoo
- Reacher with long handle to pick up items from the floor or help with dressing
- Cane, crutches, walker, wheelchair
- Blood pressure monitor
- Pulse oximeter
- Bathroom scale
- Non-skid socks or a good-fitting pair of slippers
- Small blankets for chair, recliner, and sofa sitting
- Extra batteries for the TV remote
- Phone chargers
Safety-Proofing the Home
Try to imagine what it would be like to move around the home with less energy or physical limitations. Look for ways to make everyday life both convenient and safe for your loved one.
- Consider setting up one room to serve most needs, ideally on the main floor close to a bathroom or portable commode
- Equip with a bed, cell phone, TV, remote (with extra batteries), comfy chair, laptop, iPad, chargers, and any other creature comforts closeby
- Remove throw rugs in the house, as they’re a tripping hazard
- Consider an elecronic thermosatat that controls heat and air through an app
- Repair any uneven floors
- Place nightlights in halls, bathrooms, the kitchen, and any other rooms your loved one may use at night
- Remove any loose wires or extension cords where they trip or equipment could become entangled
Safety-Proofing the Bathroom
The bathroom is where most accidents occur. Water, slippery tiles, and hard porcelain surfaces make a perfect storm for disaster. These little spaces need a lot of attention:
- Secure grab bars to the shower/tub wall and next to toilet either horizontally or vertically — not diagonally
- Consider a commode or raising the toilet seat height via an elevated seat
- Install non-slip suction mats or rubber silicone decals in the tub or shower floor to prevent falls.
- Be mindful of water on the floor and wipe it up immediately
- Make sure the towels are in easy reach of the shower or tub
- Make sure the shower curtain slides easily
- Clean up any messy drips from shampoo, soaps, or lotions
- Make sure a good hand soap is in easy reach of the sink faucet
Safety-Proofing the Kitchen
- Put glasses, plates, bowls, silverware and all food items in easy reach so that no tip-toes or bending is required
- Make sure the eating table and chair are sturdy and positioned so they don’t create a hazard
- Make sure entrances and pathways are wide enough to fit a wheelchair or walker if needed
- Keep the fridge and cabinets stocked with foods recommended for recovery and good health
- Remove food and drink items discouraged by doctors
