Preparing For After-Surgery Home Care

It doesn’t matter who you are or how old you may be; post-op care is something that we all must think about before our loved ones or we head into surgery. This recovery period will vary from person to person, but for most patients, assistance is needed for days, weeks, or even months following the surgery.

In order to have a successful recovery, daily tasks and activities must still be completed for an individual, which is why planning ahead of time is even more critical. This is where the team from Home Care Connectors can be extremely valuable. We have many years of experience when it comes to providing after surgery home care for you or your loved ones. Whether the patient needs help with day-to-day tasks or transportation, we have got you covered.

Depending on the extent of the surgery, there are many things that you can do or consider while preparing for a loved one’s recovery.

Preparation

Preparing for post-op home care is essential to recovery. There are many things you must consider including whether or not you will take on the role of caregiver or hire professional home caregivers. Before you decide on what you will do, there are some things that you can do to help you make your decision:

• Talk to the doctor- if your loved one is about to undergo surgery, it’s important that you have a discussion with the doctor in charge. Find out the severity of the surgery, typical recovery times, and any other information that can help your family determine whether you can provide care or if you should consider hiring professional after surgery home care. These details will typically be covered with doctor’s orders and should cover everything from diet, mobility, etc.
• Talk to your loved one- if your loved one has the capacity to voice their opinion about the situation, then you should listen. Talk to them about the recovery process and ask them what type of care they would prefer.y would prefer.

After you have had a discussion with the doctor and your loved one, there are a few other things that you can prepare for. If your family member lives alone, what accommodations will they need during recovery? If they are in an assisted living facility, will the staff be able to provide post-operative care? Finding the answers to these questions are all great ways to prepare for after surgery care.

Here are some other things to consider:

• Transportation – recovery processes usually call for follow-up appointments so considering how your loved one will get to and from appointments is critical.
• Mobility Assistance –  it’s crucial for your loved one to receive assistance when they need to move around safely.
• Nutrition / Diet – part of post-op care can include dietary restrictions so it’s important to follow any restrictions so your loved one can still enjoy meals while following orders.
• Daily Tasks – you must consider how day-to-day tasks will be completed during this time. This can include everyday errands or light housework if your loved one is recovering from home.
• Personal Care – this is often overlooked while preparing for post-operative care but it is one of the most important things to consider. While your loved one is recovering from surgery, it might be extremely difficult for them to keep up with bathing, oral hygiene, getting dressed, etc.

After Surgery Home Care

Once you have considered all of the things you need to prepare for after surgery home care, you should think about whether or not this is something you can handle on your own. Weigh out the positives and negatives of each choice and talk to other members of your family for their input as well.

If you are looking around for professional home caregivers, be sure to ask lots of questions regarding their experience with post-op care and also what services they provide. At Home Care Connectors, we can provide transitional care assistance with everything from transportation and safety and mobility to companionship and personal care.

Above all else, do what you and your loved ones feel the most comfortable and remember that proper preparation for post-surgery home care is a critical first step on the road to a successful recovery.