Going Home from the Hospital? Home Care Can Help!

Going Home from the Hospital?  Home Care Can Help! When you or a loved one is returning home after a hospital stay, it may seem overwhelming.  Sometimes, a little extra help from a home care program will enable you to ease into being home, and get safely back on your feet. With a doctor’s order, depending on your health coverage, you may be eligible to receive the following care post-hospitalization or rehabilitation facility stay:

• Skilled nursing care for wounds, dressing changes, IV treatments, medication administration, blood pressure monitoring, sugar monitoring
• Physical Therapy, Occupational Therapy, Speech Therapy
• Durable Medical Equipment such as oxygen
• Transportation to doctors’ appointments
• Home Health Aide services to assist in eating, dressing, bathing, toileting, transferring and continence
• Social Work visits
• Help with driving, preparing meals, doing housework and shopping

Prior to returning home, especially if you live alone, you need to ascertain a back-up caregiver to be available to you if needed. This person can be family, friend or neighbor. They should have a key to your home and you should know how to get in contact with them. In addition to arranging home care services, it is important to make sure you and your loved ones prepare your home for your return: General Home Safety:

• Consider a medical alert or a buddy system.
• Keep a fire extinguisher and smoke detector on every floor.
• Use extreme caution when smoking, never smoke when alone or in bed.
• Always get up slowly after sitting or lying down. Take your time, and make sure you have your balance.
• Wear proper fitting shoes with low heels.
• Use a correctly-measured walking aid.
• Remove or tack down all scattered rugs.
• Remove electrical or telephone cords from traffic areas.
• Avoid using slippery wax on floors.
• Wipe up spills promptly.
• Avoid standing on ladders or chairs.
• Have sturdy rails for all stairs inside and outside the house, or, if necessary, purchase a stairlift.
• Use only non-glare 100 watt or greater incandescent bulbs (or fluorescent equivalents).
• Make sure that all staircases have good lighting with switches at top and bottom.
• Staircase steps should have a non-slip surface.

Bathroom Safety

• Leave a light on in your bathroom at night.
• Use recommended bath aids, securely installed on the walls of the bath/shower stall and on the sides of the toilet.
• Skid –proof the tub and make sure the bath mat has a non-slip bottom.
• To avoid scalds, turn water heater to 120 degrees Fahrenheit or below.
• Mark cold and hot faucets clearly.
• Use door locks that can be opened from both sides.
• If possible, bathe, only when help is available.

Kitchen Safety

• Keep floors clean and uncluttered.
• Illuminate work areas.
• Mark “on” and “off” positions on appliances clearly and with bright colors.
• Store sharp knives in a rack.
• Use a kettle with an automatic shut off.
• Store hazardous items separate from food.
• Avoid wearing long, loose clothing when cooking over the stove.
• Make sure food is rotated regularly. Check expiration dates.

Drug Safety

• Review your medicines frequently with your doctor or pharmacist, and when you take new medication.
• Make sure medicines are clearly labeled.
• Read medicine labels in good light to ensure you have the right medicine and always take the correct dose.
• Dispose of any old or used medicines.
• Never borrow prescription drugs from others.
• Check with your doctor or pharmacist before you mix alcohol and your drugs.
• Have medication dispensed in a bubble pack or convenient dispenser.
• Check with your doctor or pharmacist before mixing non-prescription drugs and prescription drugs.