If your loved one has recently had a stay in hospital, it can be difficult to know how best to provide care after hospital discharge to make their daily living easier.
What can make things a little more complicated is that the hospital discharge process varies enormously, depending on local policies in the area where your loved one lives and on the type of hospital they’re being discharged from. The hospital should make sure that their basic needs can be met before being discharged: being safe at home and having access to a toilet.
How to best provide care after hospital discharge
When your loved one is discharged, your natural instinct is to provide the best care for them possible so they can easily get back to their day-to-day life. However, there are certain ways to approach this situation that meets both their needs and yours. Recovery is a process and one that is not often linear, so we’ve put together the following tips on how to provide care after hospital discharge to your family member or friend.
1: Consider staying with them
If you don’t already live with the person being discharged, you may want to consider staying with them for a couple of days to help them get settled in and back into their routine. It’ll also let you support them with making drinks, food, and making sure that they can get around their home safely.
2: Don’t try and do everything
As a carer, you can burn out quickly if you try and do it all. See if there are other family members or friends available who can help out. You may even want to make a rota so that help is always on hand when required – this is especially useful when it’s not possible to stay with them once they’re home.
3: Don’t take over
It can be tempting to try and take over doing everything, but there are tasks your loved one may want to do themselves. Be sure to talk to them to make sure that you’re both in agreement as to who should do what.
4: Prepare food and drinks for them
If it’s not possible to stay with your loved one during the day, try leaving them drinks in insulated mugs or drinking bottles so they can easily keep hydrated. It’s also a good idea to leave ready-prepared food for them that can either be eaten cold or easily warmed through in the microwave.
5: Make sure they have a way of contacting people
Move the telephone so it’s in easy reach for them or double-check that their mobile phone is nearby and charged, with your contact details (or the details of whoever else is also supporting them) programmed in, so they can get help if needed.
6: Remember that discharge and rehabilitation is a process
It will take time for your loved one to reach their version of normal again. You should try to encourage and support them to do things for themselves as it will help them with regaining their abilities and confidence. Try to resist the urge to do everything for them as this could stop them from reaching their full potential.
What to do about beds
Depending on your loved one’s needs, you may or may not need to invest in a new bed for them. Some local authorities may provide a basic profiling bed, should it be required. However, if you're interested in purchasing your own or one to a slightly higher specification, we have a variety of profiling beds for sale.
Handy products you may find useful
While everyone’s needs following a hospital discharge will be different, there are some products that may be useful for them.
1: No Rinse Shampoo Cap
No one enjoys the feeling of grimy hair, but if they find it difficult to get in the bath or stand in the shower then the No Rinse Shampoo Cap could be a great, fuss-free way to clean their hair. It can even be gently warmed in the microwave to give them a lovely feeling of warmth while their hair is cleaned. Once used, their hair can be towel-dried, combed, and styled as normal.
2: Table Valet
This lightweight, portable table is a great option for someone who has just been discharged as it gives them a surface they can rest their things on so that they have everything they need to hand. It’s wipe clean and has a lip around it to help stop items rolling off it. As it’s so portable, it can be used while they’re in bed or in their favourite chair. When it’s not needed, it can be folded away and stored.
3: Dressing Stick
It’s important to try and help your loved to regain their independence following a hospital stay and if they’re struggling with getting dressed due to limited, painful, or restricted movement then this Dressing Stick could help. The stick can be used to pull up or push down items of clothing, all they need to do is hook the clothing they want to put on and use the stick to get it into the right position.
4: Bed Wedge
If they’ll be spending a lot of time in bed following their discharge, it can get uncomfortable quickly if they don’t have the right cushioning to support them when they’re sitting up. The Bed Wedge can offer them support while they’re sitting up or reclining in bed to help keep them more comfortable. It can also be used to raise their feet and has a removable cotton cover that can be handwashed, when needed.
All the help you need at Complete Care Shop
For further advice, the government have also put together a leaflet for friends and family of discharged patients with further caring advice, which you can find here.
If you have any more questions about providing care after hospital discharge, we will be more than happy to help. Don’t hesitate to contact us, as we’re determined to help and support you and your loved ones at Complete Care Shop.