Five minutes to understand · Three actions to remember
Home again. Recovering still. One safer next step.
Your home may look the same after surgery, but everyday tasks can feel different. A trip to the bathroom, getting dressed, or standing from a chair may need a new approach while you heal.
Whether you have had joint, abdominal, or another type of surgery, start with your own discharge instructions. Your needs depend on the operation, your health, and your home. [1] [2]
Your Home. Your Safety. Your Choices.
Preparing for surgery: Plan for home before you go.
If your surgery is planned, use the time beforehand to ask questions and arrange support. After an unexpected operation, a trusted person can help organize these steps before you return home.
- Ask about everyday tasks. Will you need help with stairs, bathing, dressing, or getting to the toilet? Ask which equipment to arrange and whether OT or PT training would help. [2] [7]
- Plan your homecoming. Arrange a ride and any recommended help at home. Prepare meals and supplies, and plan an accessible place to sleep and use the bathroom. [2] [7]
- Get written instructions. Bring a complete medicine and supplement list. Ask what to take or hold, when to stop eating and drinking, and whom to contact with questions. Follow your team’s instructions; do not make medication changes yourself. [8]
Going to rehab? Tell your therapists about your specific home setup: entry steps, doorways, bathroom layout, bed and chair heights, and who is available to help. If you are planning an inpatient rehab stay, take pictures or video of your home to show your therapists. Include the entrance, bathroom, bedroom, and routes you use often. Measurements can also help them tailor practice and equipment recommendations before you return home. [2] [4]
Five practical fall-prevention strategies
01. Start with your own recovery instructions.
Before going home, ask what you may do, what you should avoid, and who to call with questions. Restrictions on lifting, bending, using an arm, or putting weight through a leg depend on your procedure. Ask your team to demonstrate the instructions and watch you practice. A general checklist cannot replace your discharge plan. [1] [7]
02. Practice the trips you cannot skip.
Getting out of bed and onto the toilet can be more challenging than expected. Ask your team to check these tasks, stairs if needed, and any recommended walking aid before discharge. Use equipment as taught, even for short trips. If a task feels unsafe, ask for help rather than improvising. [2] [5]
03. Give your home a temporary recovery setup.
Clear cords and loose rugs from walking routes, brighten the path to the bathroom, and keep everyday items within easy reach. Plan how to keep pets out of your path. Ask whether a shower seat, toilet equipment, or properly installed grab bars would fit your needs and precautions before buying them. [2] [4]
04. Ask about medicines that affect steadiness.
Anesthesia and pain medicines can affect alertness and energy after surgery. Some medicines can cause dizziness, sleepiness, or balance problems. Ask your prescriber or pharmacist to review your full list, including nonprescription products, and explain what symptoms to report. Do not stop or change medicines on your own. [1] [3]
05. Build activity around your energy and support.
Increase activity according to your surgical team’s plan. Break demanding tasks into manageable parts and arrange help with activities you cannot yet do safely. If dizziness or unsteadiness occurs, stop and sit somewhere safe; seek help and tell your team. Ask when you may progress rather than using someone else’s recovery timeline. [1] [2]
What Does This Mean for Me?
Choose one activity that matters to you, such as showering or making a meal. Ask: Can I do it within my precautions? What equipment or help would make it manageable? Your recovery plan should work in your actual home.
Supporting someone else? Ask what help feels useful. Learn any assistance technique from the care team and agree on which tasks need another person present. [2]
Three Things You Can Do Today
- Check your instructions. Confirm your activity limits, equipment, and contact number.
- Prepare one route. Clear and light the path between your bed and bathroom.
- Arrange one support. Identify who can help with a task you cannot yet manage safely.
Changes worth a conversation
Tell your team about near-falls, new dizziness, difficulty getting up, or equipment that feels unstable. Ask for a reassessment when the plan is not working at home. OT can help adapt daily tasks and home setup; PT can assess walking, balance, and movement within your precautions. [2] [3] [4] [5]
Know when to get medical help
Call 911 for new trouble breathing, chest pain, coughing up blood, or collapse. A clot can travel to the lungs after surgery and needs emergency assessment. [6]
Seek prompt medical assessment for new swelling, unexplained pain, warmth, or redness in one arm or leg. Do not assume it is ordinary postoperative soreness. [6]
Contact your surgical team promptly for worsening or uncontrolled pain, persistent vomiting, fever, or increasing wound redness, drainage, or bleeding. Follow the specific thresholds in your discharge instructions. [1]
One clear next step
Take a second look at one space.
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Your Home. Your Safety. Your Choices.
References & further reading
This page brings together professional and government safety guidance. It does not establish that these five strategies reduce falls after every type of surgery. CDC STEADI materials focus on older adults; AHRQ booklets address specific operations.
- American College of Surgeons. Recovery and Discharge.
- MedlinePlus, U.S. National Library of Medicine. Getting your home ready – after the hospital.
- CDC. Pharmacy Care (STEADI-Rx).
- American Occupational Therapy Association. Home modifications & key community partnerships.
- APTA ChoosePT. Falls Prevention.
- CDC. Understanding Your Risk for Healthcare-Associated VTE (Blood Clots).
- Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality. Patient Education Booklets: Improving Surgical Care and Recovery.
- American College of Surgeons. Preparing for Surgery.
Reviewed November 2, 2026. General education; follow your surgical team’s individualized instructions.