After a hospital stay: a simple safety plan for the first 2 weeks
Topic: Caregiving
Reading time: 4 min
The first two weeks after a hospital stay are a vulnerable window: new medications, lower stamina, and higher fall risk. This plan helps you stabilize quickly.
Day 1–2: Medication sanity check
- Make a single medication list (name, dose, when, why).
- Compare hospital discharge meds vs what you were taking before.
- If anything is unclear, call the clinic/pharmacy and ask for clarification.
Bring the bottles: If you can, bring all medication bottles to the first follow-up visit. It reduces errors.
Week 1: Fall prevention mode
- Clear pathways, add nightlights, keep essentials within reach.
- Stand up slowly; dizziness is common after illness.
- Use a cane/walker if recommended (temporary is okay).
Week 1–2: Rebuild stamina gently
- Short walks and frequent rest beats one big push.
- Protein + hydration support recovery.
Follow-up questions
- “What symptoms should prompt a call or urgent care?”
- “When can I resume normal activities?”
- “Do I need PT/OT or home health?”
Tools: Medication List Builder and Fall-proofing checklist.
Ask your clinician (starter questions)
- “What’s the most likely explanation in my case?”
- “What serious causes are we ruling out?”
- “Could any medications or supplements contribute?”
- “What’s the simplest next step?”
- “What should make me call you sooner or seek urgent care?”
If you want to prepare for a visit, try the Doctor Visit Checklist. For general support, browse Topics or Common Issues.