We use cookies to ensure that we give you the best experience on our website. If you continue to use this site we will assume that you are happy with it. Privacy Policy

Getting home

Getting home is a huge step on the road to recovery. While it is often an enormous relief to be back home, some may find the first few weeks a bit of an emotional rollercoaster in terms of readjusting to everyday life. In this section, we've provided some general information and advice on the common physical and psychological issues you might face,what you can do to help the recovery process along, and the types of help that might be available to you and your family after you get home.We've also included a few short pieces on other people's experience, which we hope you will find helpful.

You have 121 results.

Apply a filter below to refine your search results.

Step 1:

Step 2:

Sort By

Web Link: Loss of sense of smell & taste: link to Fifth Sense UK (website)

Loss of sense of smell and taste is common after Intensive Care, and after COVID-19. This link will take you to the website of Fifth Sense, a UK-based charity who provide information, advice and support for smell and taste disorders. Resources include other people's stories, smell training to help you regain your sense of smell, recipes, online support sessions with specialists, and links to smell and taste clinics (England only). We hope you find it helpful.

Web Link: Loss of sense of smell: link to ENT UK

This link will take you to ENT UK, and their web page on "anosmia", the technical term for the partial or complete loss of your sense of smell. Loss of your sense of smell (a common symptom of COVID) can have a real impact on your appetite and enjoyment of food. This can be a real issue for some people, especially if you have already lost a lot of weight after Intensive Care and/or if you are having problems swallowing. ENT UK report that for many patients, their sense of smell...

Web Link: Loss of sense of smell: link to Nosewell

This link will take you to Nosewell (with support from the British Rhinological Society) and their excellent webpages on the loss of smell after COVID-19. Their guide aims to help you understand more about the loss of your sense of smell. There are also links to Facebook groups, a patient forum, a self-assessment guide, some videos and top tips for managing your loss of sense of smell, and a guide on retraining your sense of smell.

External Video: Louise and her recovery from Swine flu

Video length: 22:33 (Watch now or tap the button above to add this resource to your personal library to watch later) In this video clip, Louise talks about her experiences of being critically ill with Swine flu. Five years on, she talks about the processes of getting better and getting on with her life. You can read interviews,listen to voice recordings and watch clips of other patients' experiences of Intensive Care by using the link to Healthtalkonline.

Web Link: Managing appointments

Some people find that they have multiple healthcare appointments after getting home, for example, with GPs, out-patient apoointments or physiotherapy. Although this leaflet is from a pain-related website, there are some useful tips on how to get the best out of your appointments.

External Video: Managing your physical symptoms using pacing

Video length: 02:16 (Watch now or tap the button above to add this resource to your personal library to watch later) This short clip will explain what 'pacing' is and how it can be used to manage some of your physical symptoms including breathlessness, fatigue and pain.

Web Link: Medical information: Patient.co.uk

This link will take you to the Patient.co.uk website. There is a huge amount of easily understandable and trustworthy general information and advice on health issues and general wellbeing. There are also blogs and forums where you can hear more about other peoples' experiences.

Web Link: Medication passport: free app

This link will take you to the Apple itunes store, where you can download a medication "passport" to your phone or tablet. The app was developed by the NHS and is free. It is designed to help you keep track of, and understand your medications, including any changes made by your doctor.

Web Link: Medications explained

Finding a website that explains what provides easily understandable information about your medications is harder than it looks.This link will take you to the Boots MD website, which provides fairly easily understandable information about many common medicines; what they're for and what to look out for in terms of side-effects.

Web Link: Mental health & coronavirus

This link will take you to the coronavirus page of MIND, the mental health charity. Here, you'll find information, advice and support on a wide range of issues, including your wellbeing, work, your rights to social care, supporting children and teenagers during the outbreak, anxiety and panic attacks, loneliness, staying active, etc.

Endorsed by:

Recommended by:

Critical Care Recovery COVID-19 is a joint project by:

Choose a topic

Getting home

You have 121 results.