Let's Check that House!
Before discharging from this hospital, your therapists do this to ensure your home is safe.
What is a home evaluation?
If you have stairs to enter your home, you might need a couple things:
What is a ramp or handrails?
All areas of your home should be this:
What is well lit?
This device has 4 wheels and the user is seated.
What is a wheelchair?
Sitting down when you do this daily task will help keep you from falling.
What is getting dressed or showering/bathing?
Medicine is helpful, but some of these side effects can increase your risk at home.
What is dizziness, fatigue, nausea, weight loss?
This area is assessed first to ensure you can enter your home.
What is the main entrance?
This one modification is cost-free but very important to increase your safety while moving around your home.
What is removing throw rugs and mats or cleaning house?
Can lighting be too bright? True or false
True, some halogen and fluorescent lights can be too bright and cause blind spots
This device has 4 wheels and the user walks behind.
What is a 4-wheel walker or rollator?
These are items that will make a shower more safe (4).
What is long handled sponge, hand held shower head, shower chair, grab bars, non-slip tape/strips.
These are ways to conserve your energy at home so you can do the things you love.
Therapists or family will measure every doorway for this reason.
To make sure your wheelchair or other mobility equipment can access the areas you need.
Therapy might recommend adding grab bars in your bathroom in these two spots.
What is at the shower entrance and by the toilet?
This is a type of lighting you should avoid.
What is overhead lighting?
This device might have 2 wheels or NO wheels.
What is a walker?
Drop something on the floor? This device will help you get it, but can help with your pants too!
What is a reacher?
Who you gonna call?! Some problems need help quickly, call for help with fires, injuries/falls, or other emergencies.
What is 911 or fire/police/ambulance?
Special attention is paid in the bathroom, with focus on these two areas.
What is toilet and shower?
This piece of equipment can help you get into a shower with a tub without modifying the whole shower.
What is a tub transfer bench?
Lighting a stairway is important! You would need switches in a these spots to keep it safe.
What is at the top and bottom of the stairway?
Waiting for help stinks! These items might make it easier to go to the bathroom (at least 2).
What are grab bars, peri wand/bottle, commode or toilet riser?
Name 4 kitchen safety hazards.
What is...
hot surfaces, sharp items, food contamination/spoiling, heavy items, wet surfaces, high and low cabinets
Know your way around the kitchen? We'll want to check a few things when we visit, like....
What is counter and table height, microwave location, stove/oven and refrigerator access?
These are reasons therapy might recommend a commode or riser over the toilet.
What is: adjustable height and arm rests for support while sitting and transferring?
These aren't just for kids! You might need these when you're up and moving after dark.
What are night lights?
This device may have 4 feet or just one.
What is a cane? (Quad cane or single point cane)
You might think these help, but get them outta your bathroom!
What are rugs or bath mats?
They might be friends but they could trip you up causing a loss of balance or fall.
What is a pet/cat/dog?
After a home eval, we share the details with a few people, like your case manager and insurance rep. These folks want to know these things:
What are therapy recommendations for modifications and equipment?
We may recommend some other changes and equipment in your home, name a few.
What is widening doorways, removing carpet, lifts, etc?
Isn't technology great?! Here's some new ways to keep the lights on!
What are motion sensors and smart lights?
You might add something to your walker to make carrying things easier.
What is a bag or basket?
Your feet are a long way down! This equipment can help cover your piggies on your own (3).
What is sock aid, shoe horn, elastic shoe laces?
Extreme weather conditions can lower your safety, in the winter time these things need extra attention.
What are stairs, ramps, walkways/driveways?
If you live to far away, this is another way to check out your home before you leave.
What is a virtual home evaluation?
Sometimes, your team recommends other changes beyond equipment and modifications. A last resort change might be:
This decision is made with you, your family, and your team.
What is moving to another home or apartment?
Not everyone likes the spotlight! Good lighting should come from this direction.
What is from behind and/or under eye level?
True or False: Its totally fine to use whatever device you want when you leave MRH.
False! You should stick with therapy recommendations. However, your HH therapists will continue to help you progress to the next level.
Getting ready can take a while, grab this so you have energy to finish the job!
What is a chair/seat?
These are some devices and equipment to alert you to situations that are unsafe.
What are smoke detectors, carbon monoxide detectors, and home alarms?