Transitioning home post-injury - Reeve Foundation

The process of transitioning from inpatient rehabilitation to home can seem daunting. After sustaining a spinal cord injury, you may not know what questions to ask in preparation for your return home. Inpatient rehabilitation is not the end of recovery, and it’s important to implement a discharge plan to help make the transition smoother back into your community.

To help individuals living with paralysis determine what steps to take in creating a discharge plan and preparing to return home, the Christopher & Dana Reeve Foundation has created an informational “Preparing to Transition Home” booklet in partnership with Craig Hospital. The booklet covers in depth many of the questions that normally arise while creating a discharge plan, and provides helpful information and resources regarding things to look into before leaving the hospital including:

• Continued medical care and ongoing physical and/or occupational therapy
• The type of supervision and assistance that you may need at home
• Transportation
• Accessibility and equipment needs
• Home modifications needs
• Caregiver considerations
• A plan to return to your daily activities
• Information on financial resources and healthcare eligibility

To help ease the stress of determining what needs to be done, the booklet includes a chart of tasks that may apply after sustaining a spinal cord injury or other types of paralysis. This chart can be used as a checklist to make sure that you are getting the necessary tasks done in a timely manner. The booklet also stresses the importance of self-advocacy upon returning home. It is crucial to be aware of your rights regarding rules and regulations that ensure equal treatment, as you will need this information to help you navigate life as your own advocate post-injury.

To receive a copy of our FREE “Preparing to Transition Home” booklet, call our Information Specialist team at 800-539-7309, or download it directly from our publications page.