Stroke Information

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You are in: Home > Stroke Information > Your Stroke Journey > Rehabilitation > Going Home

Going Home

• Planning for discharge
• Home visit
• Trial period at home
• Transition from hospital to home
• Getting assistance
• Residential and nursing home care

Planning for discharge

If you have been in hospital it can be a big step to think about leaving the protective hospital environment and returning home. There may be problems that need to be identified before it is possible to do so.

• It might be helpful to work out with your therapists any skills you will need to achieve before going home, e.g. being able to stand for a limited period in order to transfer with one person.
• You home needs to be assessed and plans made so that, where possible, things are in place before you return home, e.g. aids / adaptations to your house or care / help to do the things you cannot manage.

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Home visit

• A home visit may be arranged with a physiotherapist and / or occupational therapist. The purpose is to have a look at where you live and assess how you will be able to manage at home.
• If you are able, you may go too. It is useful for a family member / carer to also be there for the visit. They can be involved with plans and know what their role(s) will be.

A home visit can highlight difficulties you may have at home and any special equipment you may need.

For example, if you have stairs then you may require handrails to help you get up and down the stairs; you may need the kitchen work surfaces to be lowered so that you can reach them from a wheelchair or you may require adaptations to your bath or toilet seat.

The therapist(s) will also check for safety such as loose carpets and other potential hazards.

After this visit, your hospital–based OT will send a report to the community–based OTs who are responsible for providing the aids and adaptations that are recommended for you.

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Trial period at home

• A short trial period at home may be arranged before you are discharged. This can help identify any problems that may arise.
• It will also help you and your family to prepare for you returning home.

After you go home, your OT may visit you to ensure you are using the aids and equipment correctly and that they are helping you. There may be a charge for some equipment or adaptations, depending on your financial situation and the policy for charging in the area where you live.

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Transition from hospital to home

• Many services now have a stroke liaison nurse, or stroke nurse, who can help with the transition from hospital to home. Your nurse will see you in hospital and continue to visit after discharge home to help with any problems.

The ward can be quite a protective environment with people on hand, throughout the day and night, to ask for help or information.

Many people find that once back into their 'normal' environment difficulties may arise from things that were not really a problem in hospital.

In particular, difficulties may arise from thinking problems such as memory, concentration and perception.

Practical difficulties may also become apparent due to eye and / or continence problems.

• It is very important to get as much information as possible, before you go home, about who to ask for help after you have left the hospital.

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Getting assistance

• You may need to have assistance from someone else with certain activities of daily living (ADLs) (e.g. washing / dressing) or with cooking and looking after the house.

Apart from family members taking on the role of carers most other support services are provided by the Social Work Department. See the section Where To Get Help for sources of help / support.

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Residential and nursing home care

• If your stroke was quite severe and left you with lasting problems, you, your family and your doctor or social worker may feel that you need residential or nursing home care.

A nursing home must have qualified nurses on the premises and is able to offer more intensive support. Some people are eligible for financial help towards the cost of nursing and personal care while in a nursing home.

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