Getting your home ready

Your occupational therapist (OT) or physiotherapist may have talked to you about preparing your home, so that it is ready for your discharge from hospital.

Your home environment may need to be adapted if you have been ill or experienced an injury. This is especially important if your illness or injury affects your ability to move around, climb stairs or carry out daily tasks.

We sometimes refer to this home adaptation as creating a 'microenvironment' in your home.

About a microenvironment

Typically, we set up a microenvironment in one room. This might require moving some of your furniture and adding some specialised equipment. Examples of this equipment include a hospital bed, hoist or commode (see 'Home equipment' below).

In some homes, we may need to use different rooms to set up your microenvironment.  For example, we may need to set you up in your living room, if your bedroom is small or your bathroom is downstairs. 

You may need this microenvironment for a short period of recovery or to manage a long-term health condition. 

Benefits of a microenvironment

A well set-up and accessible microenvironment can help increase your independence. It can:

  • reduce the risk of falls and accidents
  • reduce anxiety
  • conserve energy
  • allow us to discharge you home safely
  • reduce the need for your family or carer(s) to be involved in manual handling (lifting and moving you).

How we get your home ready

Your occupational therapist (OT) will meet you and your family or carer while you are in hospital.

Your OT will do the following.

  • Assess your mobility and ability to carry out personal care tasks. This will help them decide the type of care support and equipment you need.
  • Assess your current home environment. They can do this using photos and room measurements which your family or carer can provide. In some cases, they will visit your home.
  • Recommend the type of equipment you need and how it should be set up. They will consider whether we need to move any of your own furniture into another room while you are using your adapted microenvironment.
  • Liaise with community services (if needed) to help with furniture moving and/or equipment delivery. (This will depend on whether this service is available in your borough).
  • Order the required equipment through your local provider. If you are eligible, they may provide it at no extra cost.
  • Discuss a likely timeframe for delivery with you or your family or carer. They will also give you or your family/carer the contact details of the equipment company, so they can liaise directly with them on delivery.
    • If you no longer need your special equipment, your family or carer must contact the provider directly to arrange for it to be collected. Kingston Hospital is not able to accept returned equipment. 
  • Complete a care package referral to your local social services provider. This will set out how to meet your needs in your microenvironment and whether your family or carer needs help with moving furniture.

Home equipment

There are different types of equipment that you may need at home. These include the following.

Hoist invacarre_birdie-evo-180kgevo.jpg
Sara Stedy Sara Steady.jpg
Hospital bed Hospital bed.jpg
Commode Commode.jpg
Riser recliner riser recliner.jpg

You may not need all of these items.

Your OT will discuss their recommendations with you or your family/carer, before they order any equipment for you.

Typical home set-up

The photo below shows a typical selection of microenvironment equipment. 

Your OT will discuss with you the best way for your family or carer to arrange the furniture and equipment in your home.

microenv.png

Contact information

Kingston Hospital Occupational Therapy Department

Telephone:

020 8934 2520