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Guide · Home physiotherapy in Singapore

Preparing the home after a hospital stay: a caregiver’s checklist

Coming home after a stroke, an operation or a long hospital stay is a big step. Moving around feels different, and the home that was easy before can suddenly feel full of obstacles. A few changes before discharge make the first weeks safer and less stressful for everyone.

Reviewed by Oreka’s clinical reviewer, a physiotherapist registered with the AHPC · Last reviewed 1 October 2026

Walking shoes, a rolled exercise mat and a towel beside a chair near a sunny window
Illustrative image.

Before discharge

  • Ask the hospital team what the person can and can’t do yet: walking aids, limits on movement, and anything to avoid.
  • Get the discharge summary and any therapy notes. They help everyone who cares for the person next, including a home physiotherapist.
  • Ask about equipment, such as a walking frame, commode or shower chair, and whether it should be in place before the person gets home.
  • Plan the first day. Who will be there, and how will the person get from the car or taxi to the flat?

Room by room

The route through the home

  • Clear a wide path from the bed to the toilet and the main sitting area.
  • Remove or secure loose rugs, and tidy away wires.1
  • Move furniture the person might grab for balance if it isn’t stable.

Bedroom

  • Check the bed height: feet should rest flat on the floor when sitting on the edge.
  • Put a lamp or switch within reach of the bed, and keep the way to the toilet well lit.1
  • Keep a phone, water and glasses within reach.

Bathroom

  • Consider grab bars and non-skid tape in the shower,1 and grab bars where there are kerbs or steps.3
  • A shower chair helps if standing for long is hard.
  • For eligible HDB households, the EASE programme subsidises items such as grab bars and slip-resistant treatment for toilet and bathroom floors.2

Kitchen and living area

  • Put everyday items between waist and shoulder height so there’s no need for stools or low bending.
  • Choose a firm chair with armrests to make standing up easier.

Daily routines that help

  • Get up slowly. HealthHub’s stroke guidance suggests sitting up for a few minutes after waking, and doing a few sit-to-stand movements at the bedside before walking away.3
  • Wear well-fitting footwear at home: unsuitable footwear is one of the reasons people fall.1
  • Keep up the exercises the hospital or physiotherapist gave you, at a regular time each day.3
  • Plan rest. Tiredness is common after a stroke or a hospital stay. Build activity up gradually.3

Looking after yourself as a caregiver

Caring for someone after a hospital stay is demanding. Learn safe ways to help them stand and walk, so you don’t hurt your back. Ask for help early: from family, a helper, or services in the community.

When home physiotherapy helps

A physiotherapist visiting at home can:

  • check how the person moves around this home, not a clinic
  • practise the tricky moments: getting out of bed, the toilet, steps
  • suggest simple changes to the home
  • show family members and helpers how to support safely.

Oreka arranges registered physiotherapists for home visits in Singapore. S$250 nett for a 60-minute visit starting 8am–7pm. Arrange care for a loved one

When to get medical help

Contact the person’s doctor if something is getting worse instead of better. For sudden weakness, a drooping face, difficulty speaking, chest pain, severe breathlessness or any emergency, call 995.

Sources

  1. HealthHub (Health Promotion Board), Preventing Falls at Home
  2. Housing & Development Board, Enhancement for Active Seniors (EASE)
  3. HealthHub (Ministry of Health), Rehabilitation after Stroke: Physiotherapy

Last updated: 1 October 2026

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