Supporting a Loved One's Rehabilitation at Home: A Family Carer's Guide

When a family member comes home after surgery, a stroke, a fall or a hospital stay, they often need physiotherapy to regain their strength and independence. As a family carer, you play a vital role — but it can be hard to know what to do, how much to push, and how to look after yourself at the same time.

You do not need to be a healthcare professional to support someone's rehabilitation. Your role is not to provide treatment, but to encourage, assist and create an environment where recovery can happen. This guide covers the practical things you can do to help — and the things you should not do.

Understanding your role

As a family carer, your role in rehabilitation includes:

• Encouragement: Motivating your loved one to do their exercises and stay positive
• Supervision: Being nearby for safety during exercises or walking practice
• Reminders: Helping them remember their exercise programme and when to do it
• Communication: Acting as a link between the physiotherapist and your loved one, especially if they have cognitive or communication difficulties
• Environment: Making the home safe and accessible for rehabilitation
• Observation: Noting progress, setbacks or new symptoms to report to the physiotherapist

What you should not do:

• Do exercises for them — they need to do the movement themselves
• Force movements that cause sharp pain
• Change the exercise programme without consulting the physiotherapist
• Take over tasks they can do themselves, even if slowly — independence is the goal

Working with the physiotherapist

The physiotherapist is your partner in your loved one's recovery. Here is how to make the most of that relationship:

• Be present at sessions: Watch and learn so you know what the exercises look like and how to supervise them.
• Ask questions: If you are not sure how to help with an exercise, ask. No question is too basic.
• Ask for a written programme: Request a simple written or printed sheet with the exercises, repetitions and any safety notes.
• Report changes: Tell the physiotherapist if your loved one is struggling, improving faster than expected, or experiencing new symptoms.
• Ask about equipment: If walking aids, rails or other equipment would help, ask the physiotherapist for recommendations.
• Discuss goals together: Understanding what the physiotherapist is working towards helps you support the process.

Creating a safe home environment

Before rehabilitation begins at home, make sure the environment is safe:

• Remove trip hazards: Loose rugs, cables, clutter on the floor
• Improve lighting: Ensure all rooms and hallways are well-lit, especially at night
• Install grab rails: Near the toilet, bath and stairs if needed
• Clear walkways: Ensure there is enough space for a walking aid or wheelchair
• Consider furniture height: Chairs and beds may need raising to make sitting and standing easier
• Remove loose items: Pets, small tables or anything that could cause a stumble
• Keep essentials within reach: Phone, water, medication and call bell within easy reach

Your physiotherapist can do a home assessment and recommend specific modifications.

Helping with exercises

Your loved one's physiotherapist will prescribe specific exercises. Here is how to help:

Before exercises

• Make sure the area is clear and safe
• Ensure they are wearing supportive footwear and comfortable clothing
• Have a sturdy chair or surface nearby for support
• Encourage them to take pain medication if needed (as prescribed) so they can exercise comfortably

During exercises

• Be nearby for safety, but do not hover — give them space to move
• Count repetitions if they find it helpful
• Offer gentle encouragement, not criticism
• Watch for signs of dizziness, excessive pain or breathlessness — stop if these occur
• Do not correct technique unless the physiotherapist has specifically shown you how

After exercises

• Note how the session went — was it easier or harder than yesterday?
• Check for any new pain or swelling
• Record progress on a simple chart (date, exercises completed, any notes)
• Encourage rest — recovery happens during rest, not just during exercise

Encouraging without nagging

One of the hardest balances for carers is knowing when to encourage and when to step back. Some tips:

• Use positive language: "You did really well with those exercises yesterday" rather than "You need to do your exercises."
• Link exercises to goals: "If you keep doing these, you'll be able to walk to the garden again."
• Make it routine: Tie exercises to a daily habit — after breakfast, before lunch, etc.
• Exercise together: If appropriate, do some exercises alongside them.
• Acknowledge bad days: Some days will be harder. That is normal. Do not push harder on bad days — adjust and try again tomorrow.
• Celebrate progress: Even small improvements matter. Point them out.

When your loved one refuses to exercise

Resistance is common, particularly after stroke, with dementia, or when someone is in pain or depressed. Try these approaches:

• Understand the reason — are they in pain? Afraid of falling? Too tired? Not understanding why it matters?
• Break exercises into shorter sessions — 5 minutes, twice a day, may be more achievable than 20 minutes at once
• Ask the physiotherapist to simplify the programme or find more engaging exercises
• Involve them in setting goals — what do they want to be able to do?
• Try a different time of day — some people are better in the morning, others in the afternoon
• Do not force it — forcing exercises can create negative associations and make resistance worse
• Discuss with the physiotherapist or GP if low mood or depression may be a factor

Helping with walking and mobility

If your loved one is relearning to walk or using a walking aid:

• Walk beside them, not holding them, unless they need physical support
• Use a walking belt or stand on their weaker side if they have had a stroke
• Make sure they wear supportive, non-slip shoes — not slippers
• Encourage short, frequent walks rather than one long walk
• Do not pull them up from sitting — let them push up using their arms and legs
• Ensure walking aids are the correct height — the physiotherapist can check this

Looking after yourself

Caring for someone during rehabilitation is physically and emotionally demanding. Your health matters too — a burnt-out carer cannot provide good support.

Physical self-care

• Learn safe lifting and handling techniques — ask the physiotherapist or an occupational therapist for training
• Use equipment (hoists, slide sheets, grab rails) to reduce strain on your back
• Take breaks — even 10 minutes to sit down and have a cup of tea
• Look after your own back — bend your knees, not your spine, when assisting

Emotional self-care

• Acknowledge that it is hard — feeling overwhelmed is normal, not a failure
• Accept help from family, friends or volunteers — do not try to do everything yourself
• Join a carer support group — Carers UK offers resources and community
• Take time for yourself — maintain hobbies, social contact and activities outside caring
• Talk to your GP if you are struggling with low mood, anxiety or exhaustion
• Consider respite care — short breaks can recharge you and benefit your loved one

Practical support available

• Carer's Assessment: Available through your local council — identifies what support you need
• Carer's Allowance: A weekly benefit if you care for someone for 35+ hours per week — check eligibility at gov.uk
• Respite care: Short-term care to give you a break — ask your local council or GP
• Day centres: Provide social interaction for your loved one and a break for you
• Community physiotherapy: Home-based physiotherapy reduces the burden of travelling to appointments

Managing expectations

Recovery is rarely linear. There will be good days and bad days, bursts of progress and plateaus. Understanding this helps you and your loved one stay motivated:

• Progress is often slow — weeks and months, not days
• Plateaus are normal — they do not mean recovery has stopped
• Setbacks happen — an illness or bad night's sleep can temporarily reduce function
• Every person recovers at their own pace — do not compare to others
• Small improvements add up — being able to stand for 30 seconds longer is real progress
• The goal is function and independence, not perfection

When to contact the physiotherapist or GP

Contact the physiotherapist if your loved one:

• Has a fall or near-fall
• Reports new or worsening pain during exercises
• Seems to be regressing rather than progressing
• Cannot do exercises that were achievable last week
• Seems excessively fatigued or unwell

Contact the GP urgently if there are signs of:

• Chest pain or breathlessness
• Sudden weakness or numbness
• Confusion or drowsiness
• Fever or signs of infection
• Signs of another stroke (face, arms, speech — call 999)

Frequently asked questions

About Stephen Hayward

Stephen Hayward is an HCPC registered physiotherapist providing home visits across County Durham and Teesside. His background combines musculoskeletal rehabilitation, falls prevention, elderly rehabilitation and post-operative recovery. Stephen is a CSP member and provides home physiotherapy visits across County Durham and Teesside.

View Stephen's profile