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Going Home
If you have been in hospital it is a big step to think about going home. Although that is what most people want, there can be problems that need to be identified before it is possible to do so. It might be helpful to work out any particular skills you will need before going home such as being able to stand in order to transfer with one person.
Plans need to be made so that as much is in place as possible for your return. This can be anything from aids or adaptations to the house, to arranging care or help to do the things you cannot manage. To do this your home environment needs to be looked at to see how suitable it is for your return.
Home Visit
A home visit is often arranged with either a physiotherapist or occupational therapist (OT) or both and you may be asked to go along. The purpose is to have a look at where you live and assess how well you will be able to manage at home.
The visit highlights problem areas such as any special equipment you might need, perhaps handrails to help you get up and down stairs or lowering kitchen work surfaces so that you can reach them from a wheelchair or adaptations for your bath or toilet seat.
The therapist will also check for safety such as loose carpets and other potential hazards.
It is useful for any carer who is going to be helping you at home to be there for the visit. They can then be given some idea of what is planned and what their role will be.
After this visit, your hospital-based OT will send a report to OTs working for the local council’s social work department, who are responsible for providing the aids and adaptations recommended for you.
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 after you go home for good. It will also help you and your family to prepare for your homecoming.
After you go home, your OT may make follow up visits 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 means and the policy for charging in the area where you live.
Transition
Many services now have a stroke liaison nurse or stroke nurse who as well as seeing you in hospital can help with the transition from hospital to home and continue to visit after discharge to help with any subsequent problems.
Many people find that once back into their ‘normal’ environment, problems make themselves apparent that were not really a difficulty in hospital.
The ward can be quite a protective environment with people on hand to ask for help or information. It is very important to get as much information as possible about who to ask for help after you have left the hospital, before you go home.
In particular this relates to eye problems, perceptual problems and continence problems.
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