← Back
Psychology, family and everyday life

Preparing the home: a safe return from hospital

Before the patient comes home, the family can prepare the house. The aim is not a sterile home but a clean, safe and comfortable one.

Last updated: ~2 min read
A bright, tidy living room with a light sofa
Figure 1.A tidy room ready for the return home

01Short answer

Main steps: clean the house, remove mould and air the rooms (“Air in the room: clean, smoke-free, mould-free”). Put soap at every sink and hand rub by the entrance. Prepare a comfortable bedroom with a toilet nearby (“How to prepare the bed: a clean and safe place to sleep”, “Bathroom and toilet: it should be the cleanest room”). Clear walkways and add a night light (“Night-time safety: protecting against falls and delay”, “Moving safely at home: protection from falls and knocks”). Keep a thermometer, the medicine box and the team's phone number in view. Get the kitchen ready for food safety (“Kitchen: clean surfaces, safe food”). Make plans for pets and plants (“Pets: love and safety” and “Plants and soil: greenery, with care”). People living in the home should talk to their own doctor about vaccinations. Move renovation and building work to before or after treatment.

02Simple explanation

Clean, not sterile.

Soap everywhere.

Clear walkways, a night light.

Thermometer and phone numbers.

03Scientific explanation

NCI: hand hygiene, cleanliness and avoiding contact with ill people reduce infection risk during neutropenia.

NCI: chemotherapy can lower neutrophils, platelets and red cells, which raises the risk of infection, bleeding and fatigue.

04What happens in the body?

Vaccination

Family members' flu vaccines protect the patient; ask the team about live vaccines.

Renovation

Building dust spreads fungal spores.

Neutrophils

The first defence against infection; when they are low, hygiene matters most.

Platelets

Help blood clot; when they are low, protect yourself from injury.

05Daily protection: four steps

Wash, protect, check, report.

Wash — Hands and personal hygiene.1WashHands and personal hygiene.
Protect — Against injury and infection.2ProtectAgainst injury and infection.
Check — Temperature and skin.3CheckTemperature and skin.
Report — Tell your team about changes.4ReportTell your team about changes.
HygieneClean hands.
TemperatureThe 38 °C threshold.
ProtectionYour team's rules.

06Key points at a glance

TopicIn brief
VaccinationFamily members' flu vaccines protect the patient; ask the team about live vaccines.
RenovationBuilding dust spreads fungal spores.
NeutrophilsThe first defence against infection; when they are low, hygiene matters most.
PlateletsHelp blood clot; when they are low, protect yourself from injury.

07Key terms

Sterile
Germ-free; a home does not need to be.
Neutropenia
A low neutrophil count.
ANC
Absolute neutrophil count.
Thrombocytopenia
A low platelet count.

08Key points

  • Clean.
  • Soap.
  • Numbers in view.
  • Wash your hands.
  • 38 °C: call.

09Frequently asked questions

Do we need to disinfect the house specially?

Usually not; ordinary cleaning and hand hygiene are enough.

What if a family member falls ill?

Keep apart where possible, wear a mask and wash hands.

What should I watch every day?

Temperature, bleeding, tiredness and the catheter site; tell your team about any change.

10Questions for your doctor

Take these questions to your appointment. The ones you save are collected on the “My questions” page and stay on this device only.

  1. Do we need to disinfect the house specially?

  2. What if a family member falls ill?

  3. What should I watch every day?

My questions

12Sources

  1. National Cancer Institute. Infection and Neutropenia during Cancer Treatment
  2. National Cancer Institute. Bleeding and Bruising (Thrombocytopenia) and Cancer Treatment
  3. National Cancer Institute. Anemia and Cancer Treatment
  4. World Health Organization. World Hand Hygiene Day
  5. National Cancer Institute (NCI). Support for Families: Childhood Cancer
  6. American Cancer Society. Helping Children When a Family Member Has Cancer
  7. Macmillan Cancer Support. Talking to children and teenagers
  8. BMJ, 2000. Telling children about a parent’s cancer
  9. European Journal of Cancer Care, 2020. How psychosocial interventions meet the needs of children of parents with cancer: A review and critical evaluation
  10. Pediatric Blood & Cancer, 2015. Supporting Siblings as a Standard of Care in Pediatric Oncology
Medical disclaimerThis information is for educational purposes only and does not replace medical advice.
Last updated: ← Back to the list

Open the interactive site →