Good preparation before discharge makes recovery smoother and safer. Use this checklist for the days before and after your loved one comes home from hospital.
Before discharge
- Get the written discharge summary and prescription — and read them before you leave.
- Ask the surgeon about wound care, bathing, diet and activity limits.
- Confirm the date of the follow-up appointment and stitch removal.
- Ask which warning signs mean you should call or return to hospital.
- Arrange help at home — a post-surgery caretaker or nurse if needed.
Prepare the home
- Set up a bedroom on the ground floor if stairs are difficult.
- Arrange a walker, commode or wheelchair if advised.
- Keep essentials within reach of the bed.
- Clear walkways to prevent falls.
Medicines
- Write a simple medicine chart with times and tick each dose given.
- Don't stop antibiotics early unless the doctor says so.
- Ask the doctor before giving any extra painkillers.
Wound care
- Keep the dressing clean and dry and change it only as instructed.
- Wash hands before touching the wound area.
Mobility
- Follow the surgeon's or physiotherapist's guidance on walking — gentle movement often helps prevent complications.
- Do the breathing and leg exercises you are taught.
- Consider home physiotherapy after orthopaedic surgery.
Warning signs — contact the doctor
- Fever or chills
- Increasing redness, swelling, pain, discharge or bleeding at the wound
- Breathlessness or chest pain (seek emergency help)
- Calf pain or swelling in one leg
- Unable to pass urine, persistent vomiting
This checklist is general guidance; your surgeon's instructions always come first.
About the author: This guide was written by the care team at Patient Care Taker, a home care agency providing trained caretakers and nurses in Islamabad and Rawalpindi. It is for general information and does not replace medical advice.
