You’re helping your aging mother transition home after a lengthy hospital stay so she can start her recovery process. Before being discharged, Mom made it clear that she would like to receive her follow-up care in the safety and comfort of her private residence. Preparing a senior’s home to support recovery after leaving a hospital or rehab facility can be challenging under the best of circumstances. Here’s how to ensure that your loved one remains safe and comfortable even when you’re not able to be there.
Recovering At Home Requires Teamwork
After leaving the hospital or rehab facility, your loved one may have difficulty getting around, or they could be experiencing pain, medication side effects, or noticeable changes to their hearing or eyesight. At that point, falling becomes a real possibility.
To make matters worse, performing activities of daily living (ADLs) – such as bathing, dressing, and toileting – can be next to impossible for someone recovering at home after surgery, an illness, or a stint in a rehab facility.
On the other hand, studies have found that a home-based recovery helps facilitate a faster, less expensive, and more complete healing process for the average patient. As a result, helping your loved one recover at home should be a family priority whenever possible.
Home Modification Tips for Transitioning Seniors
Here’s how to create a more “senior-friendly” home environment for your loved one:
Minimize trip-and-fall hazards
Fall-proof your loved one’s home by eliminating walkway trip hazards such as throw rugs, electrical cords, pet supplies, and small furniture. Be sure that all stairways are well-lit and that they have handrails along both sides.
Beef up the lighting
Due to vision changes, many seniors have trouble seeing objects clearly as they once did – especially at night. If needed, beef up the lighting in their hallway, bedroom, and above stairs. As an added precaution use reflective tape to mark uneven floors or steps.
Safe proof the bathroom
With its slippery tile floors, confined spaces, and sharp corners, a bathroom is a dangerous place for recovering seniors. Reduce the likelihood of a bathroom mishap by placing nonskid tape inside the tub and a nonslip bathmat outside the tub. Install grab bars on the wall next to the toilet and in the shower/tub area. If poor balance is an issue, get your loved one a shower seat and handheld shower wand.
Adjust the bed height
Getting in and out of bed can be hazardous for those with limited mobility. Find your loved one a bed that’s the perfect height for them to safely get in and out of. If they tend to fall out of bed, position it as low to the floor as possible. If your senior uses a wheelchair, try to match the height of the bed with the height of the wheelchair’s seat.
Don’t forget the kitchen
Discourage your loved one from climbing on stepstools by arranging all foodstuffs and cookware within arm’s length. Also, move kitchen chairs and other trip hazards safely out of the way. Finding them a pair of shoes with nonslip soles will help keep them from sliding on spill-dampened floors. And finally, be sure that the fridge and pantry are well-stocked with plenty of nutritious foods and beverages.
Hire them a personal assistant
When you’re busy or live far away, another way to ensure that your loved one gets the recovery care they deserve is by hiring them a “personal assistant” from a reputable home care provider. Some of the transitional care services that a professional caregiver can perform while in the home include:
- Companionship
- Personal Care
- Light Housekeeping
- Medication Reminders
- Meal Planning
Your Trustworthy Recovery Care Partner in Indianapolis
Senior1Care is your trusted partner in providing quality, compassionate home care services to seniors living in Fishers, Brownsburg, Avon, Carmel, and the greater Indianapolis area. Our experienced caregivers are trained to deliver professional, reliable care in the same respectful and friendly manner that they would treat their own family members.
At Senior1Care, we understand that having a caregiver in your loved one’s home is a decision that requires trust. Our goal is to build relationships with clients by listening to their needs and providing the highest level of quality care possible. We are committed to helping your loved ones maintain their well-being, independence, and comfort. To learn more about our flexible caregiving options or schedule a FREE assessment for a senior in the greater Indianapolis, IN, area, visit us by clicking here now.
