The discharge process at the North York town hospital was quite a spectacle. The week-long stay, during which my aged father received excellent care around the clock, was just enough time for him to prepare for his next adventure: going home. Already the medications were written down, the papers were signed, and we were kindly told, “Take care!” What was left, though, was a crucial book to help us cope with the situation we were going to face: turning our family house into a safe and functional recovery area.
The main reason for the hospital’s attention was understandably his clinical needs. Nonetheless, it was a huge transition going from the sterile environment of a well-equipped hospital bed to a cozy house with carpets. Here are the unexpected challenges we faced and the invaluable lessons we learned along the way.
The Unspoken Challenges of the Home Recovery Environment
It did not take long for us to realize that the terms “restful home environment” and “clinical recovery environment” do not mean the same. The following challenges caught us off guard:
The Tripping Hazard Tour: Our belief was that we had the passage from the bedroom to the bathroom all cleared. The loose rug corners, low-lying furniture, and even a pet toy were some of the things we did not factor in.
The Everyday Battle for the Bathroom. A hospital bathroom has grab bars, a raised toilet seat, and mats to keep you from slipping. Our bathroom had a slippery porcelain tub and a toilet that was now too low for anyone with limited mobility, which was our situation. On the first night, we realized that going to the bathroom had become a major effort and a potential injury.
The Medication Management Maze: The hospital gave a list of pills and times but no system. Keeping track of multiple prescriptions, some taken with food and some on an empty stomach, would be frustrating and error-prone.
The Silence Was Deafening: It was not the quiet life we got used to during the hospital stay. After the constant monitoring of the patient and the sound of the beeping machines, the silence at home was really loud. No one was there to verify and reassure us, so we felt trapped and unable to recognize whether the patient’s condition was normal after surgery or if it was a warning sign.
What We Learned: Building a True Recovery Haven
It was by going through the difficulties that we were able to change our home from being a danger zone to becoming a healing place. We wish our discharge plan had included the following items:
ConductMedEquip Solutions, which is the best medical bed supplier in GTA : You need to lower yourself to a kneeling position. Look for loose wires, curled carpet edges, and clutter. Secure rugs with double-sided tape or remove them entirely. This is the single most crucial thing you can do.
Invest in Simple Adaptive Equipment: We bought a raised toilet seat, a shower chair, and temporary grab bars. Not only were these cheap items for safety; they gave back a feeling of independence and dignity. A bedside commode can also be a nighttime game-changer.
Establish a Central Command Centre: In our kitchen, we utilized a whiteboard as a simple means of tracking medication schedules, fluid intake, and jotting down questions for the next doctor visit. The large pill organizer that opened for multiple days also helped in alleviating problem-solving on a daily basis and avoiding confusion.
Incorporate Technology to Augment Your Vigilance and Awareness: A simple baby monitor provided peace of mind by allowing us to listen for our father if he needed assistance without hovering outside of his door. We also programmed emergency contacts into speed dial as well as a group text with family members to coordinate care and updates.
The most profound lesson of all from the experience wasn’t that healing is physical; it’s so much more about the patients’ emotions and world around them. The doctor had to make the sickroom a safe, comfy place for recovery. The staff also went ahead and handled all of the different elements in the home that they thought might be difficult. And so, the hospital staff were able to shift from a fear-based and reactive mode into a posture of confidence: proactive care. If you’re preparing a family member’s return from the hospital to home, don’t stick to just your clinical checklist. Most importantly, you become their architect back to a normal life of day-to-day living.
