How to Prepare Your Home After Hospital Discharge

Returning home after a hospital stay should feel like a relief—not a risk. For many affluent seniors, the absolute luxury is knowing that their home is clinically safe, thoughtfully organized, and supported by professionals who understand both their health needs and their lifestyle expectations.

Below are key steps to prepare your home for a safe, comfortable transition—along with how a service like My Medical Family elevates that experience.

1. Start Planning Before You Leave the Hospital

The safest discharges are planned, not rushed. Structured discharge planning reduces hospital readmissions and length of stay, especially for older adults with multiple conditions.[1][2][3] A Cochrane review of 33 trials found that individualized discharge plans reduced readmission rates by an average of 11% over three months and decreased hospital length of stay by 0.73 days in older medical patients.[2]

Before going home, make sure you (or your family assistant) have:

• A clear medication list (what changed, what stopped, exact doses and timing).

• Written activity restrictions (driving, stairs, lifting, bathing).

• Instructions on wound care, devices, or equipment (catheters, drains, oxygen, walkers).

• The date and location of follow-up appointments and lab work.

My Medical Family can attend discharge meetings virtually or in person, translate the medical jargon, and convert instructions into a practical home plan.

2. Prepare the Physical Space for Safety and Ease

Falls and medication errors are two of the leading reasons seniors return to the hospital after discharge.[4][5][6] Fall-related injuries rank as high as the third-leading readmission diagnosis, with older adults at particularly high risk during the first three weeks after discharge.[7][8] A few targeted changes—done well—can dramatically lower that risk:

• Entry stairs: Good lighting, secure railings, and a step-free entrance if possible.

• Bedroom: Bed at a comfortable height, clear pathways, no loose rugs or cords.

• Bathroom: Grab bars, non-slip mats, a raised toilet seat, and a shower chair if recommended.

• Living areas: Frequently used items are moved to waist level to avoid bending or climbing.

A medically informed home assessment—rather than a generic "safety check"—ensures modifications match your specific diagnoses, medications, and mobility level. Risk factors associated with patient frailty, including malnutrition, reduced mobility, and increased risk of falls, play an important role in readmission risk.[4]

3. Design a Medication Monitoring System

After hospitalization, medication regimens are often more complex. Approximately 20-40% of hospital readmissions in older adults are medication-related, and up to 70% of these are potentially preventable.[6][9][10] Medication errors after discharge are common and strongly associated with readmissions.[5][11][12]

Consider:

• Medication reconciliation: A medical professional reviews all prescriptions and supplements for interactions and duplication.

• Organized delivery: Pre-filled pill packs or locked smart dispensers rather than loose bottles.

• Vital sign monitoring: Remote devices for blood pressure, weight, oxygen saturation, or glucose that report directly to your care team.

Key factors associated with potentially preventable readmissions include inadequate monitoring for medication adverse effects or nonadherence, follow-up appointments not scheduled sufficiently soon after discharge, and patients lack of awareness of whom to contact after discharge.[5] Living in your own home alone increases the odds of medication-related readmission compared to living with someone or in a nursing home.[6]

My Medical Family can coordinate pharmacy services, set up remote monitoring, and ensure abnormal readings trigger rapid clinical follow-up—not 3 weeks later in a waiting room.

4. Build a Daily Support Oversight Plan

High-net-worth seniors often have household staff—but not necessarily healthcare-literate staff. After a hospitalization, you may need:

• Skilled nursing visits for wound care, IV therapy, injections, or complex teaching.

• Therapies (physical, occupational, speech) delivered in the home, scheduled around your life—not the other way around. Home-based exercise and rehabilitation programs improve physical function, activities of daily living, and mobility in older adults after hospitalization.[13][14][15][16]

• Care coordination: One clinical point of contact who tracks symptoms, labs, appointments, and specialist communication.

My Medical Family functions as that medical concierge—monitoring trends, anticipating problems, and intervening early so small changes don't become urgent admissions.

5. Protect Your Energy and Lifestyle

Recovery is not just physical; it's emotional and social. Social support, confidence in care, and reduced logistical stress meaningfully improve recovery and quality of life in older adults.[17][18][19] Research shows that greater social support is associated with improved functional outcomes, reduced disability burden, and lower mortality risk after hospitalization, particularly among socially isolated older adults.[17][20] Higher perceived social support has been linked to better rehabilitation outcomes and reduced hospital readmission rates in older patients.[18][19][21]

Arranging private transportation, quiet in-home labs, and discreet visits allows you to heal without sacrificing privacy or comfort.

The My Medical Family Difference

Preparing your home after a hospital discharge is far more than installing a grab bar. It's about creating a medically intelligent home environment—one that anticipates risk, simplifies decisions, and aligns with the standard of living you expect.

With My Medical Family overseeing your transition, returning home becomes what it should be: safe, seamless, and entirely centered on you.

References

1.     Benefits of Individualized Discharge Plans for Hospitalized Patients. American Academy of Family Physicians (2022).

2.     Discharge Planning From Hospital. Gonçalves-Bradley DC, Lannin NA, Clemson L, Cameron ID, Shepperd S. The Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews. 2022;2:CD000313. doi:10.1002/14651858.CD000313.pub6.

3.     The Effect of Discharge Planning on Length of Stay and Readmission Rates of Older Adults in Acute Hospitals: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis of Systematic Reviews. Hunt-O'Connor C, Moore Z, Patton D, et al. Journal of Nursing Management. 2021;29(8):2697-2706. doi:10.1111/jonm.13409.

4.     Risk Factors for Early Hospital Readmission in Geriatric Patients: A Systematic Review. Cilla F, Sabione I, D'Amelio P. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health. 2023;20(3):1674. doi:10.3390/ijerph20031674.

5.     Preventability and Causes of Readmissions in a National Cohort of General Medicine Patients. Auerbach AD, Kripalani S, Vasilevskis EE, et al. JAMA Internal Medicine. 2016;176(4):484-93. doi:10.1001/jamainternmed.2015.7863.

6.     Medication-Related Hospital Readmissions Within 30 Days of Discharge-a Retrospective Study of Risk Factors in Older Adults. Glans M, Kragh Ekstam A, Jakobsson U, Bondesson Å, Midlöv P. PloS One. 2021;16(6):e0253024. doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0253024.

7.     Posthospital Fall Injuries and 30-Day Readmissions in Adults 65 Years and Older. Hoffman GJ, Liu H, Alexander NB, et al. JAMA Network Open. 2019;2(5):e194276. doi:10.1001/jamanetworkopen.2019.4276.

8.     Post-Hospital Falls Among the Older Population: The Temporal Pattern in Risk and Healthcare Burden. Qian XX, Chau PH, Fong DYT, Ho M, Woo J. Journal of the American Medical Directors Association. 2023;24(10):1478-1483.e2. doi:10.1016/j.jamda.2023.07.014.

9.     Prevalence and Preventability of Drug-Related Hospital Readmissions: A Systematic Review. El Morabet N, Uitvlugt EB, van den Bemt BJF, et al. Journal of the American Geriatrics Society. 2018;66(3):602-608. doi:10.1111/jgs.15244.

10.  Prevalence of and Risk Factors for Drug-Related Readmissions in Older Adults: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis. Prasad N, Lau ECY, Wojt I, et al. Drugs & Aging. 2024;41(1):1-11. doi:10.1007/s40266-023-01076-8.

11.  Preventable Medication-Related Readmissions Involving Older Adults: A Retrospective Cohort Analysis. Schönenberger N, Beck T, Werlen L, Hug BL, Meyer-Massetti C. Swiss Medical Weekly. 2025;155:4259. doi:10.57187/s.4259.

12.  Medication Errors and Gaps in Medication Discharge Planning for Hospitalized Older Adults: A Prospective Cohort Study. Anderson TS, Wilson LM, Wang BX, et al. Journal of General Internal Medicine. 2025;:10.1007/s11606-025-09973-x. doi:10.1007/s11606-025-09973-x.

13.  Effectiveness of Home-Based Exercise for Improving Physical Activity, Quality of Life and Function in Older Adults After Hospitalisation: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis. Lin I, Glinsky J, Dean C, Graham P, Scrivener K. Clinical Rehabilitation. 2022;36(9):1170-1185. doi:10.1177/02692155221095936.

14.  Effectiveness of Post-Discharge Exercise Interventions in Older Adults Following Acute Hospitalisation: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis. Etayo-Urtasun P, Izquierdo M, Sáez de Asteasu ML. The Lancet. Healthy Longevity. 2025;6(7):100730. doi:10.1016/j.lanhl.2025.100730.

15.  A Systematic Approach for Prescribing Posthospitalization Home-Based Physical Activity for Mobility in Older Adults: The PATH Study. Carvalho LP, Kergoat MJ, Bolduc A, Aubertin-Leheudre M. Journal of the American Medical Directors Association. 2019;20(10):1287-1293. doi:10.1016/j.jamda.2019.01.143.

16.  Progressive Multi-Component Home-Based Physical Therapy for Deconditioned Older Adults Following Acute Hospitalization: A Pilot Randomized Controlled Trial. Stevens-Lapsley JE, Loyd BJ, Falvey JR, et al. Clinical Rehabilitation. 2016;30(8):776-85. doi:10.1177/0269215515603219.

17.  Association of Social Support With Functional Outcomes in Older Adults Who Live Alone. Shah SJ, Fang MC, Wannier SR, Steinman MA, Covinsky KE. JAMA Internal Medicine. 2022;182(1):26-32. doi:10.1001/jamainternmed.2021.6588.

18.  Scoping Review: Social Support Impacts Hospital Readmission Rates. Schultz BE, Corbett CF, Hughes RG, Bell N. Journal of Clinical Nursing. 2022;31(19-20):2691-2705. doi:10.1111/jocn.16143.

19.  Association of Social Support With Rehabilitation Outcome Among Older Adults With Hip Fracture Surgery: A Prospective Cohort Study at Post-Acute Care Facility in Asia. Zhu Y, Xu BY, Low SG, Low LL. Journal of the American Medical Directors Association. 2023;24(10):1490-1496. doi:10.1016/j.jamda.2023.03.034.

20.  Association of Social Isolation With Disability Burden and 1-Year Mortality Among Older Adults With Critical Illness. Falvey JR, Cohen AB, O'Leary JR, et al. JAMA Internal Medicine. 2021;181(11):1433-1439. doi:10.1001/jamainternmed.2021.5022.

21.  High Perceived Social Support and Hospital Readmissions in an Older Multi-Ethnic, Limited English Proficiency, Safety-Net Population. Chan B, Goldman LE, Sarkar U, et al. BMC Health Services Research. 2019;19(1):334. doi:10.1186/s12913-019-4162-6.