Tips For Taking Off The Pressure Before You Come Home From The Hospital

Nobody likes being laid up. However, having the right things in place before you arrive home from the hospital can make the burden lighter. Whether you are facing recovery following a planned surgery, an accident, or an illness, getting a few things figured out beforehand will allow you to convalesce with less stress.  

Be realistic about your circumstances

This is not the time to try to be superwoman or superman. Be realistic about your recovery needs and the help and assistance required. If you live alone, you may need to enlist the help of a family member to live with you for a few days or weeks. 

If you have small children, you may need to line a babysitter up to care for the children for a few hours a day. Will you be restricted from driving for a time? If so, compile a list of upcoming doctor's appointments and schedule your transportation in advance. Knowing who is taking you to the doctor ahead of time means less stress the day of your appointments.

Prepare your home in advance if possible

If you know your surgery is pending, fix meals ahead of time and freeze them. Ready frozen meals are a huge time saver, and you will be saving money by not having to rely on fast food. Eating healthy is better for your body as it heals.

Imagine how stressful it will be sitting in your living room recovering and feeling helpless when you see all the cleaning tasks that need to be done. Complete heavy cleaning tasks prior to your hospital stay or pay a cleaning service to do them while you are in the hospital. Coming home to a clean environment will instantly take the stress off you.

If you are going to be in a non-weight bearing status when you return home due to a surgery or injury, you must take safety precautions. Eliminate all throw rugs or objects that may cause falls. Rearrange furniture to make it easy to navigate through your home with a walker or wheelchair, and place kitchen items on the counter or a low shelf to make them easier to access.

Schedule delivery of any home healthcare items you need

Most home health care stores provide at-home delivery of medical equipment. It is vital to have the items you need in place before your arrival home. Talk with your doctor or nurse to determine what assistive devices you may need for ambulating, bathing, and for the performance of your activities of daily living.

Not all assistive devices are created equally. For instance, walkers come with or without wheels. Discuss which one would best suit your needs and provide the best safety considering your living conditions. If you will be spending a lot of time in a wheelchair, comfort is key. Talk to your medical equipment provider about the type of wheelchair that has high comfort ratings.

Illness, surgery, and accidents are life events that affect the lives of nearly everyone during a lifetime. While these are events, nobody looks forward to, being prepared for a period of convalescing will make life easier throughout the recovery period. For more information, contact a company like Lincoln Mobility.