Home safety checklist after hospital discharge

Entryway and stairs

• Walk the route from the vehicle to the door before the discharge ride arrives.
• Clear packages, planters, loose mats, shoes, cords, leaves, ice, and other obstacles.
• Check that steps are visible, stable, and well lit and that existing railings are secure.
• Ask the care team: Can my parent use these steps? What help will they need, and can you show the helper what to do?
• Plan who will carry bags and paperwork so the person helping with entry is not also juggling supplies.
• Make sure the correct key, code, or building access is available to the person bringing the parent home.

Bathroom

• Check the full path to the toilet and whether the door opening leaves enough room.
• Remove loose rugs, clutter, and items that make a wet surface harder to see.
• Place soap, toilet paper, towels, and needed personal items within easy reach.
• Ask the care team: What help does my parent need to reach the toilet, get on and off it, manage clothing, and wash? Should they use the bath, shower, or another way to wash at first?
• Ask the supplier or therapist to check equipment fit, arrange setup, and show helpers how to use it before the first bathroom trip.
• Decide who is available for the first bathroom trip and what the backup plan is.

Bedroom and main resting area

• Check whether the bed and main chair can be reached without squeezing around furniture.
• Put a stable surface nearby for glasses, phone, water, discharge papers, and the current contact list.
• Start with a steady table and lamp you already own. If the light switch or a way to call a nearby helper is hard to reach, see a few chair-side setup options.
• Keep frequently used clothing and personal items within reach so bending and climbing are not needed.
• Ask the therapist: Can my parent get in and out of this bed and chair? If help is needed, can you show us what to do with this furniture?
• Make a plan for nighttime help, including who is in the home, who is reachable, and who is backup.

Nighttime path and lighting

• Review the lighting planned for overnight use without walking through a dark area. Arrange any needed lighting before the path is used.
• Check the route from bed to bathroom, phone, water, and the most-used chair.
• Move cords, rugs, pet items, low furniture, and clutter out of the path.
• Make sure switches or night lights are reachable before stepping into a dark area.
• Keep the mobility device the care team instructed the person to use in the expected location.
• Choose a way to call the overnight family member without relying on shouting across the home.

Medication-storage area

• Keep the current discharge medication list with the medicines, pharmacy number, and care-team contact.
• Separate old lists and bottles that may no longer match the discharge instructions until a pharmacist or licensed clinician says what to do with them.
• Store medicines according to the label and professional instructions, away from children, visitors, and pets.
• Make the area easy for the person responsible for medication organization to use without crowding food, mail, or household items.
• Do not change a dose, schedule, container, or medication based on this checklist.

Kitchen and hydration access

• Place the foods, drinks, cups, and utensils permitted by the care team within practical reach.
• Clear the route to the refrigerator, sink, table, and main eating area.
• Plan who prepares meals, checks groceries, and handles the first morning.
• Ask the discharge team about any diet, fluid, swallowing, or assistance instructions rather than guessing.
• Move heavy or frequently used items so a stool or overhead reach is not needed.

Mobility-device clearance

• Ask the therapist which measurements they need for the route your parent will use with their walking aid. Do not ask your parent to try the route to find out what help they need.
• Check doorways, corners, rugs, narrow furniture gaps, bathroom entry, and the path around the bed.
• Identify where the device will be parked so it remains available without becoming a trip hazard.
• Ask the therapist: How should my parent use this walking aid, and can you show the helpers what to do?
• Choose who will follow up with the supplier about missing equipment, delivery, and setup. Ask the care team what to do while waiting.

Use the equipment follow-up checklist.

Pets and trip hazards

• Move pet bowls, toys, leashes, beds, gates, and feeding supplies out of walking paths.
• Plan who handles excited greetings, nighttime pet care, and doors during arrival.
• Secure cords, loose rugs, stacks of paper, baskets, low tables, and temporary equipment.
• Keep needed items visible without blocking walking paths or the space beside the bed and chair.

Emergency access

• Keep the address, apartment or unit details, building entry instructions, and an emergency contact where family can find them.
• Make sure a working phone and charger are reachable.
• Do not block the main exit with equipment, bags, or temporary furniture.
• Ask the care team to write down the warning signs to watch for, which need a same-day call, and which need emergency help.
• Keep the daytime and after-hours care-team numbers on the call list. For an emergency, call 911.

Questions for occupational therapy, physical therapy, nursing, or the discharge team

• Can my parent walk to the places they need, use steps, get in and out of bed or a chair, use the toilet, and wash? What help do they need for each, and can you show us what to do?
• Are there movements or activities my parent should avoid? Where are those instructions written?
• What equipment was ordered, when will it arrive, and who checks the fit, sets it up, and shows us how to use it?
• If equipment is late or the setup does not work, what should we do while we wait, and who should we call?
• Who can check the home setup again if my parent’s needs change or a helper finds a problem?
• Which warning signs mean we should call the care team the same day, and which mean we should get emergency help?