You waited patiently for your loved one’s doctors to tell you that they could now go home. This could be your senior parent who recently got admitted due to a major operation, your sister who just gave birth, or your baby who got into an accident not so long ago. Now that your family is about to welcome them home, you must start preparing the house even before bringing them home.
Your house could be new, modern, and your family’s haven. But simply having a beautiful home won’t guarantee that this is the best place for your loved one to recuperate. To ensure they can recover well at home, you should take certain considerations before the big day.
Home Safety
Is the house safe and secure enough for your loved one who needs recuperating? There is a need to make sure that your very own living space won’t be the reason why your loved one is having a hard time recovering. Check if there is anything that can further injure your loved one, and see to it that you address the issues asap.
You may not need to do a complete renovation to ensure your loved one stays comfortable after leaving the hospital. But there are specific home maintenance projects to consider so you can be sure about their safety.
Consider the last time you had your HVAC system checked. When was the last time you hired professional services to clean your air ducts, dryer vents, and HVAC units? If these tasks have been long overdue, make sure to make arrangements to ensure your family and especially your sick loved one will be breathing in good air quality after they arrive home.
If your loved one now has limited mobility, then you need to consider his room arrangements. Make sure he has enough room to move around the house safely. As much as possible, have a room on the ground floor ready so that they won’t need to go up and down the stairs each day.
If they are now using a walker or wheelchair, make the necessary modifications to accommodate their needs. Remove unnecessary clutter in common areas like the living room, hallways, and the kitchen. You want them to be able to move around the house without worrying about them tripping over something or slipping and falling.
Deluttter and Organize
You and your loved one might be used to living in your home without doing regular cleaning and organizing. But since your loved one is still considered a patient, you need to ensure the cleanliness and orderliness of the space. So, start cleaning and decluttering before they even arrive.
It is best if you can start getting rid of the things you no longer need and want. This way, you will have less clutter to clean up in the future. Recycle what you can, donate some, and sell the others if you want. When it comes to your loved one’s personal belongings, be sure to talk to them about these before disposing of any.
It also helps if you start organizing the house to make it easier for your loved one to move around safely. They may now be back on their feet and only needs some rest before going back to their old activities. But they may still need more time before they can entirely go back to their old self.
If you often leave them home alone due to work and personal matters, be sure to make it easier for them to live in the house through organization. Keep the usual things they use within reach. Find ways to make it easier for them to live independently but safely.
For example, they like to take charge of the cooking. Make sure the things they usually use for cooking and preparing meals are easy to reach. This way, you can reduce their risk of falling into another accident because they had to step on a stool to get a pan or another ingredient.
Smart Home Tech
Not everyone would think about investing in smart home technologies before their loved one goes home from the hospital. But in reality, these can help make everything easier for your loved one. This is especially true if they need lots of bed rest.
For instance, smart lighting will give your loved ones the chance to stay longer in bed or avoid moving across the house to turn off the lights they forgot about. Smart thermostats will ensure the home stays at a comfortable temperature no matter the time. Meanwhile, smart blinds help with energy efficiency and convenience. These smart technologies make it easier for your loved on to accomplish specific tasks on their own.
There is a need to turn your home into a safe recovery place for your loved one. They might need help accomplishing certain tasks and navigating the house after being discharged from the hospital. With your help, you can make the house into a safer, more comfortable, and more convenient living abode suitable for your loved one’s recovery.
