6). Arrange for mail pickup and delivery. If your mailbox is curbside, the presence of uneven walking surfaces, slope, and roundtrip distance may present a fall risk and endurance challenge. Consider having neighbors or family retrieve and deposit mail for you.
If your home has a mail slot, consider connecting a bag or container to the slot so you do not have to bend over to retrieve mail that falls through the slot and onto the floor.
7. Make items in cabinets and on shelves easy to reach. Frequently used items should be placed no higher than shoulder level and no lower than hip level. Dishes, clothes, and toiletries should be placed within a safe level of reach that does not significantly challenge balance or tempt you to be unsafe.
8. Make alternative arrangements for overly energetic pets. Pets offer documented health benefits for the elderly and those in recovery. However, loving actions of your large overly energetic cats and dogs could present a fall risk when depending upon a walker or cane due to significantly impaired standing balance.
9. Talk with family, friends, and neighbors to arrange for housekeeping, home maintenance, and grocery shopping during recovery. Consider who will prepare your home for an extended rehabilitation stay if required; including disposing of produce and other perishables.
10. Upon leaving the hospital to return home, ensure the person transporting you home does so in at least a mid-sized vehicle. Sports cars and bucket seats will make you uncomfortable and cramped if you still have joint soreness and decreased mobility.
