After an extended hospital stay, it can be tough to get your home life back to normal. But a little preparation can go a long way in making the transition smoother. Here are a few tips for getting your home ready after a hospital stay.
Declutter your home before surgery to make it easier to clean and avoid infection
If you’re scheduled for surgery, one of the best things you can do to prepare is to declutter your home. Before you start to declutter your home, have containers defined for the following purposes to sort items.
Tasks to Help You Organize Your Home
Before Having Surgery
- Put away: Items that have crept out of their designated storage spaces.
Fix/mend: Items that need something before they’re put away, such as a shirt with a missing button.
Recycle: Items that can be recycled
Trash: Items to throw away in the household trash.
Donate: Unwanted items that are still in good condition and can be donated to a charitable organization or another person.
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Founding Dean and Professor, Emory & Henry College, School of Nursing
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Make sure all your necessary supplies are easily accessible in case you need them after surgery
After you’ve had surgery, you’ll want to make sure that you have all of the supplies you need within easy reach. This includes everything from pain medication to ice packs to clean gauze pads. It’s also a good idea to have a list of emergency numbers close at hand in case you need to call for help. By being prepared, you can help ensure that your recovery goes as smoothly as possible.
Stock up on food and drinks that are easy to eat and won’t require a lot of preparation
Before surgery, it is important to stock up on easy-to-eat foods and drinks that will not require a lot of preparation. This will ensure that you have the energy and nutrients you need to recover from your surgery.
There are a few things to keep in mind when choosing what to eat and drink.
- Make sure that the food is easy to digest and won’t upset your stomach.
- Choose foods that are high in protein and fiber, as these will help promote healing.
- Make sure to stay hydrated by drinking plenty of fluids. Water, juices, and soups are all great options.
By following these simple tips, you can be sure that you have everything you need to recover from your surgery. Eating certain foods that have anti-inflammatory properties may also reduce your body’s inflammation levels. Some of the foods you should add to your diet to reduce inflammation include:
- Fruits
- Fatty fish
- Nuts
- Green leafy vegetables
- Olive oil
- Tomatoes
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Keep your bedroom neat so you can rest comfortably after surgery
After surgery, your body will need time to rest and heal. This means that you will likely spend a lot of time in your bedroom. Have a nightstand or table very close by with your necessities: water, tissues, glasses, pen and pencil, call bell, phone, contacts with their phone numbers.
To ensure that you are comfortable and can rest well, it is important to keep your bedroom neat. This means making the bed each day, either yourself or with help or made by someone else, putting away any clothes or belongings that are out of place, and taking care of any clutter. It is important to keep the noise level down in your bedroom so that you can get a good night’s sleep.
Keeping your bedroom clean and quiet, can create an environment that is conducive to healing after surgery.
Assess your home for safety
• Floors – Walk through your home looking at the floors to assess if there any tripping hazards.
• Throw rugs should be removed.
• Carpet edges/corners that should be double taped down.
• Any steps between rooms that installing a handrail would help.
• Move furniture and other items that block the way.
• If the floor is slippery, you can apply a commercial product to roughen the surface.
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Bathroom assessment:
- Will you be able to get in and out of the tub, install some handrails?
- Assess the shower for safety, is the floor too slippery? Install handrails, add a shower seat/chair.
Stairs
- If unable to navigate the stairs, convert a first-floor space into a bedroom.
- Make sure that the railing is secure, perhaps you need a rail on both sides of the stairs.
Access
- Will you be able to get into the home (steps)? Do you need to have a ramp put in place?
- Is the railing secure? Do you need any additional railings?
Contact
Need additional assistance? Contact us:
National Contact: Joan C. Smith
Phone: (571) 662-7220 | Email
This program was partially funded through a Patient-Centered Outcomes Research Institute (PCORI) Eugene Washington PCORI Engagement Award (EADI #30051). The statements in this website are solely the responsibility of the authors and do not necessarily represent the views of the Patient-Centered Outcomes Research Institute (PCORI), its Board of Governors or Methodology Committee.