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 whether stairs should be used, avoided, or supervised.
• 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 a qualified professional about transfers, bathing, showering, supervision, and any ordered bathroom equipment.
• Do not improvise a grab bar, seat, or transfer method when installation, fit, or technique is unclear.
• 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.
• Keep frequently used clothing and personal items within reach so bending and climbing are not needed.
• Ask the care team whether bed height, chair height, transfers, positioning, or supervision needs special attention.
• 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

• Measure or test the route the ordered or instructed device will actually use.
• 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 occupational therapy, physical therapy, nursing, or the discharge team how the device should be used and whether family needs training.
• Track missing equipment, supplier contact, delivery timing, and one family owner.

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 filling the walking surface or transfer area.

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.
• Write down the exact warning signs and contact instructions the discharge team gave the family.
• For urgent symptoms or immediate safety concerns, contact emergency services or a licensed clinician.

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

• Which routes, stairs, transfers, or daily activities should family watch or assist with?
• Which movements or activities have restrictions, and where are those instructions written?
• Which equipment was ordered, who supplies it, and who trains the family?
• What should the family do if the home setup does not work as expected?
• Who can reassess the home or routine when the family sees a problem?
• Which concerns require a same-day call, and which require urgent or emergency help?