A Hospital Room at Home: The Complete Setup

Choose the right room

The best room is not always the one with the best view.

• Close to the toilet, ideally with an attached bathroom or a short, level, well-lit route.
• On the ground floor, if stairs are an issue, or on a floor with a lift; see ground-floor or upper-floor living in later life.
• Large enough for a bed, a chair, a commode, equipment and space for carers to move on both sides of the bed. A care bed is about 90 by 200 cm; allow about 90 cm clear on the side where carers work and about 150 cm to turn a wheelchair.
• Close to family life, so that your parent hears the household and is not isolated, but with privacy when needed.
• Well ventilated, with natural light and a window view if possible, and a comfortable temperature; see temperature and ventilation for older adults at home.
• Quiet, away from the kitchen and street noise.
• Close to a power supply with several sockets, and ideally on a circuit that is reliable.
• Easy to clean, with a hard floor rather than thick carpet.
• Easy to evacuate in an emergency.

If the room is small, remove unneeded furniture; see fitting a care bed into a small Indian flat.

The bed

For anyone who spends most of the day in bed, a proper care bed changes everything.

• Adjustable height lets carers work without bending and lets your parent get in and out at a safe height.
• An adjustable backrest allows sitting up for meals, medicines and breathing comfort; some beds have knee adjustment.
• Side rails, if assessed as safe, prevent rolling out but carry entrapment risks; see bed rails guide.
• Manual, semi-electric or fully electric options exist; see hospital beds at home.
• Rent or buy: for a few weeks or months, renting is common; see renting or buying a hospital bed.

Position the bed so that carers can reach both sides, with the head against a wall, away from draughts, and with a view of the door and window. Lock the wheels. See setting up a hospital bed at home.

The mattress and pressure care

For those at risk of pressure sores, the mattress is as important as the bed; see air mattress for pressure sores and choosing an anti-bedsore mattress.

• Pressure-relieving mattress or overlay, chosen with a nurse according to risk.
• A mattress protector that is breathable and waterproof where needed.
• Smooth, dry, wrinkle-free sheets.
• Pillows and wedges for positioning; see positioning a bedridden parent.
• Heel protectors and a plan for turning, usually every two hours; see preventing bedsores at home.
• A power-cut plan for air mattresses; see hospital beds and power cuts.

Power, lighting and communication

• Sockets: enough, with surge protection, and not overloaded. Avoid extension cords across the floor.
• Backup power: an inverter or battery for the bed, an air mattress, oxygen concentrator and lights, sized with an electrician, and tested.
• Lighting: a main light, a bedside lamp, a night light and a torch. See motion-sensor night lights.
• Call system: a bell, a handheld buzzer, a baby monitor or a pendant, so that your parent can call for help at any time; see panic pendants.
• Phone: within reach, with large buttons or a stand.
• Clock and calendar in view.
• Television or radio within sight and reach, with large-button controls.

Toileting and hygiene

• Commode chair next to the bed for those who can sit up with help, or a bedpan and urinal for those who cannot; see commode chair guide, bed pan guide and urinals.
• Incontinence products, underpads and wipes, with a bin and plenty of supplies; see underpads guide and incontinence products by situation.
• Hand washing station: soap, hand sanitiser and towels near the bed.
• Bathing supplies: a basin, mild soap, towels and washcloths; see bed bath step by step.
• Mouth care supplies; see oral care for frail older adults.
• Skin care: barrier cream, moisturiser; see barrier creams and skin care.
• Laundry: a plan and a basket for soiled linen, with spare sets.
• Waste: a covered bin with liners, and a plan for safe disposal of used products and sharps; see disposal, laundry and odour control.

Bedside organisation

A small, well-organised bedside saves steps and mistakes.

• A bedside table with water, glasses, tissues, phone, remote, a clock and a bell.
• An overbed table for meals and activities; see overbed table guide.
• A chair for the person to sit out, and a chair for visitors and carers.
• A medicine area, locked or out of reach if needed, with a pill organiser, list and chart; see setting up a weekly medicine box.
• A care folder: discharge summary, medicines list, doctor and nurse contacts, a care diary and daily chart; see care diary and handover notes and daily routine chart for a frail parent.
• Hand-over notes for visiting nurses and attendants.
• A first aid kit and a thermometer; see digital thermometers.
• A blood pressure monitor, pulse oximeter and glucometer, if advised; see home health monitoring starter kit.

Medical equipment

Depending on needs, the room may also hold:

• Oxygen concentrator or cylinder, with safety rules: no smoking or flames, good ventilation, a backup supply; see oxygen concentrator buying guide and oxygen cylinder safety.
• Nebuliser, suction machine or other devices, installed with the supplier's training.
• Feeding equipment, under the nurse's guidance.
• Wheelchair for outings; see buying a wheelchair in India.
• Walking aids for those who can walk with help.
• Hoist or slide sheet, with training, if the person cannot bear weight.
• Drip stand or catheter equipment, as advised by the medical team.

Ask the hospital and the supplier to demonstrate each item, and keep contact numbers for repairs.

Safety in the room

• Clear floor, free of rugs, cables and clutter.
• Non-slip floor or mats and non-slip footwear for carers and the patient.
• Smoke alarm, and no open flames or heaters near oxygen.
• Good lighting at night.
• Safe temperature: not too hot or cold; a fan or air conditioner used so that air does not blow directly on the person.
• Insect protection: nets or screens.
• Falls prevention: a bed at the right height, rails assessed, a bedside mat, and an alert for those who may try to get up alone; see bedroom setup for night-time safety.
• Security: locks, a plan for visitors and valuables.
• An emergency plan: emergency numbers (112, doctor, ambulance, nurse, family), the route and a bag packed for hospital; see emergency bag for a hospital visit.

Infection control

• Hand hygiene for everyone before and after contact.
• Clean surfaces regularly with suitable cleaners.
• Separate towels and linen, washed hot.
• Safe disposal of waste and sharps.
• Mask and gloves when needed.
• Ventilation.
• Visitors who are unwell should stay away.

See infection control for home caregivers.

The people

• Who is in charge? Appoint a main coordinator.
• A rota for family, attendants and nurses, covering nights.
• Training: ask the hospital nurse or physiotherapist to teach carers lifting, turning, feeding and skin care; see how to lift and transfer a parent safely and turning a bedridden patient.
• Professional help: a trained attendant or nurse; see hiring a home attendant checklist.
• Rest and respite for carers; see respite care.
• Dignity and privacy, with a screen or curtain and respectful care; see dignity in intimate care.

Day-one checklist

Before your parent comes home:

• Room chosen, cleaned, cleared and ventilated.
• Bed delivered, assembled, locked and positioned; mattress fitted.
• Backup power tested.
• Commode, bedpan or urinal, supplies and bin in place.
• Bedside table, lamp, bell and phone in place.
• Medicines collected, list and chart ready, pill box filled.
• Discharge summary and contacts in the care folder.
• Oxygen or other equipment installed and demonstrated, if needed.
• Wheelchair or walker ready.
• Supplies stocked: pads, wipes, gloves, creams, dressings, linen.
• First aid kit and thermometer.
• Emergency numbers displayed.
• Carers briefed and rota set.
• Transport home arranged, with a way to get your parent from car to bed.

Budget and rental

Equipment costs can add up quickly. Rent the bed, mattress, commode and wheelchair for a few weeks and buy personal items such as cushions, aids and supplies; see equipment to rent or buy: a checklist and home modification budget for ageing in place in India. Check delivery and installation; see equipment delivery, installation and aftercare.

When to ask a professional

Ask the hospital team for a discharge plan and equipment list before leaving. A nurse can set up the room, teach care routines and review the set-up. An occupational therapist can assess the room and recommend changes; see occupational therapy home assessment. Our care advisors can arrange equipment, a nurse and an attendant, and visit to help plan the room.