When you have been in hospital for an operation or a serious illness, getting home is likely the first thing you think of in terms of your recovery, and while being in hospital can help you out massively, for a lot of people, recovering at home is exactly what is needed at this point.
But are there benefits to recovering at home, and if so, what are they?
Faster Recovery Times
Research consistently shows that patients can recover more quickly at home than in a hospital setting. Familiar surroundings reduce stress, and lower stress levels lead to an improved healing journey as there’s less stress on the body, and the lower your stress levels, the less cortisol is produced, which suppresses immune function.
People also sleep significantly better at home, as you’re not listening to hospital activities or subject to harsh lighting and noisy environments. You can rest in peace and quiet somewhere you feel more comfortable.
Lower risk of Secondary Infection
Hospital-acquired infections are a genuine clinical risk for people who are already immunocompromised due to illness or injury.
But when people return home, this risk is reduced drastically. It does not disappear entirely; any wound or compromised immune system still carries vulnerability, but the infection profile at home is your own familiar environment, not a clinical setting, meaning you are not introducing variables in your life unnecessarily.
More Control Over Routine
When you’re in the hospital, you have to live by the routines the staff are held to so they can effectively care for their patient. Meal times, cleaning times, sleep routines, exercise and visiting hours are all set and predetermined to suit the facility, not individual patients.
But at home, this is all down to you and your needs. You can eat when you prefer, sleep when you need to and have visitors whenever you can accommodate them.
If you need further help, you can use home care services to come in at an agreed time that works for you, not when it’s suitable for the environment in the hospital.
This flexibility can be beneficial to recovery as it is more relaxed, more personalised and can be adapted as required to support recovery.
Stronger Support Network
When you’re recovering at home, you can create an effective support network that helps you regain your full health and mobility as much as possible.
Recovery at home means you can have more people visiting you to take over support as you need it, be it physical support or mental support.
Friends and family can visit to help keep you company and cheer you up, which impacts your mental health. A positive outlook and good mental health are required for an effective recovery from illness.
You can lean on people to help you get up and about when you’re ready or work with you as you navigate appointments for follow-up care or learn how to live your life differently after your illness, and you should never underestimate how beneficial this type of support can be.
