Coming Home From the Hospital: What to Have Ready Before They Walk In the Door

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Coming Home From the Hospital: What to Have Ready Before They Walk In the Door

The equipment, the room setup, and the paperwork, sorted by what you're recovering from.

Most discharges happen fast, often with only a day or two of notice. Whatever the reason for the hospital stay, the home needs to be ready before the car pulls into the driveway. Here is what to check, room by room, before they get there.

Adult daughter helping her mother settle in safely at home after a hospital stay
Dr. Brandy Archie, OTD
Written by an OT
Dr. Brandy Archie, OTD, OTR/L
The short answer

What do I need at home before someone comes home from the hospital?

At minimum, have a clear path from the front door to the bathroom and bedroom, a shower chair or transfer bench, a raised toilet seat, and a plan for meals and medication for the first few days. Beyond that, what's needed depends heavily on why they were hospitalized: hip and knee surgery need different equipment than a stroke, and a stroke needs different equipment than a cardiac event. Find your specific situation below.
Don't wait until they're home to find out

The first 48 hours home: a quick checklist

These apply regardless of diagnosis. Check them off before discharge day, not after.

Clear, wide path from the door to the bathroom and bed
Throw rugs and loose cords removed
Shower chair or tub transfer bench in place
Raised toilet seat and grab bars installed
Medications picked up and organized before arrival
Easy meals prepped or delivery arranged for the first week
A phone, charger, and call button within reach of the bed
Condition-specific equipment installed, not still in the box
Follow-up appointments and home health calls scheduled
Room by room

Is the house itself ready, not just the equipment?

A shower chair does not help if there is no grab bar to hold onto getting up. Our full home modifications hub covers the structural side, room by room.

Bathroom

Grab bars, non-slip surfaces, and the right seat height for whichever precautions apply.

Bathroom readiness guide →

Bedroom

Bed height, transfer support, and a clear nighttime path to the bathroom.

Bedroom readiness guide →

Stairs

Whether stairs are usable at all in the first weeks, and what to add if they are.

Stair safety guide →

Entryway

Getting from the car into the house safely on the very first trip.

Ramp & entryway guide →

Kitchen

Simple setup changes so meals do not require reaching, bending, or standing longer than is safe.

Kitchen modifications guide →

See the full home modifications hub

Every room, every risk area, one place to check the whole house before discharge day.

Open the full hub →
Before you buy anything

What insurance actually covers, and what it doesn't

1

Medicare and many private plans cover some durable medical equipment (DME)

Walkers, wheelchairs, and hospital beds are often covered when prescribed by a doctor and supplied through an approved DME provider. Coverage rules and approved suppliers vary by plan, so confirm before you assume something is covered.

2

Home modifications are usually not covered by Medicare

Grab bars, ramps, stair lifts, and bathroom remodels are typically considered home modifications, not medical equipment, and fall outside standard Medicare coverage. Medicaid waiver programs, veterans benefits, and local aging-in-place grants sometimes help. See our financial help guide for what to check.

3

Most adaptive equipment on this page is HSA and FSA eligible

Shower chairs, raised toilet seats, reachers, and similar adaptive equipment are commonly eligible for HSA or FSA payment even when they are not covered by insurance. Check your plan's specific rules before purchasing.

4

For bigger projects, a free contractor referral is available

Ramps, stair lifts, and larger modifications are handled through our partnership with VGM Live at Home. The referral itself is free, and a real quote will tell you more than any online estimate.

Get a contractor referral
Find your specific situation

What are they recovering from?

Each situation has different precautions and different equipment. Pick the one that matches, read the OT guide, and shop what's actually needed.

Recovering from Read the OT guide Shop what's needed
Back or spine surgery Spinal fusion recovery equipment guide Shop the collection · Back Surgery Bundle
Knee replacement Knee replacement recovery equipment guide Shop the collection · Knee Surgery Bundle
Hip replacement Hip replacement recovery equipment guide Shop the collection · Hip Kit Bundle
Stroke Stroke recovery adaptive equipment guide Shop the collection
Hip fracture Hip precautions and equipment guide Shop the collection
Cardiac surgery or heart failure (CHF) Sternal precautions apply for weeks after open heart, bypass, or valve surgery Shop the collection
Bariatric surgery Bariatric surgery home recovery guide Shop the collection
Shoulder surgery or rotator cuff repair Shoulder surgery home recovery guide Shop the collection
Not every hospital stay is surgery

Coming home after a hospital stay that wasn't surgery

A hospital stay for COPD, pneumonia, a respiratory infection, or another medical event that isn't surgery still means coming home with less energy and less endurance than before. The precautions are different, but the home still needs to be ready.

Pace activities and plan rest breaks into the day
Keep frequently used items within easy reach, waist to shoulder height
Use a rollator or shower chair to conserve energy, not just for safety

This is energy conservation, a core occupational therapy principle for anyone recovering from an illness that leaves them short of breath or easily fatigued. If this describes your situation, connect with an OT for guidance specific to your diagnosis, or start with SAMIE.

Still not sure what to set up?

SAMIE builds a free, personalized discharge-ready plan in minutes, based on the actual diagnosis and home layout.

Good questions

Frequently asked questions about coming home from the hospital

A clear, wide path from the door to the bathroom and bed, a shower chair or transfer bench, a raised toilet seat, medications picked up in advance, and easy meals planned for the first week. Beyond that, equipment depends heavily on the specific diagnosis or surgery.
Often just a day or two, and sometimes less. Ordering adaptive equipment and reviewing room-by-room readiness before the surgery date or hospital stay, rather than waiting for the discharge call, avoids a last-minute scramble.
Usually not. Medicare typically covers durable medical equipment like walkers and hospital beds when prescribed, but home modifications such as grab bars, ramps, and stair lifts are generally not covered. Some adaptive equipment is HSA or FSA eligible instead.
Surgical recovery usually involves specific movement precautions tied to the procedure. Recovery from a medical hospitalization, such as for COPD or pneumonia, more often involves low energy and reduced endurance, and benefits from energy conservation strategies like pacing activities and reducing reaching or bending.
An occupational therapist is trained to match home setup and equipment to a person's specific diagnosis, precautions, and home layout. Connect with an OT or start with SAMIE for a free personalized plan.

Ready before they walk in the door

Start with a free personalized plan from SAMIE, or talk to an occupational therapist about the right setup for your specific situation.