Home setup

Home safety checklist after hospital discharge

The home that worked before a hospital stay may not work the same way tonight. Walk the actual route from the entrance to the main chair, bedroom, bathroom, kitchen, and exit—and write down what the care team needs to clarify.

Reviewed and updated: July 26, 2026 · Organization checklist; not a clinical home-safety assessment or equipment recommendation.

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

• Turn off the main lights and inspect the path under the same conditions the family will face overnight.
• 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?