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When someone returns home from a hospital stay, it can be a relief. Hospitals are not the most comfortable place, and your home is a cozy, familiar environment. However, making the transition back home is not always easy, and this is can be especially so for people who have recently had surgery.
To ensure a safe and quick recovery, you will want to prepare your home for your return. If you cannot prepare it yourself or need help, then consider asking a family member to help you out. Without the necessary preparations, it can be even more difficult to make a full recovery.
If you or someone you know is going to undergo a procedure, then use the following tips to help you prepare the home for post-surgery care and a return from the hospital.
Clean the Home and Remove Safety Hazards
No one wants to come home to a messy house, and it is tougher to clean your home when you are recovering from surgery. Knowing this, take the time to clean up your home before undergoing surgery. It will not only be a nice sight to come back to, but it will make your living space safer as well.
Furthermore, while you clean, make sure you eliminate any tripping or falling hazards. This can include loose electrical cords and throw rugs. When people return home following surgery, they may have limited mobility. Because of this, it can be tougher for them to get around the home as easily, so you want to remove any risks that could lead to tripping, falling, or another accident.
It can also be helpful to add extra lighting, including extra lamps and night lights, in the home. When it gets dark, you want to make sure there is enough light available to ensure safe movement.
Set Up a Safe Living Space
An important part of after-surgery care is to ensure that the person can rest comfortably. If the person who recently underwent surgery has a multi-level home, then it is best to set up a sleeping area on the lower level. You want to limit the amount of times they go up and down the stairs. Consider having a bedside commode by the bed as well.
Place any items that will be used frequently on an easily accessible level. For example, store your drinkware in an area between shoulder and waist level. This will make it easy for the person to grab a glass when they need water.
Stock Up on Food and Other Essential Items
When recovering from surgery, you should not be leaving your home unless necessary, such as for a follow-up doctor’s appointment. That said, you want to stock up on food and meals beforehand. Ideally, foods that can be frozen and reheated are great because it limits the amount of work that needs to be done to prepare a meal.
Make sure you have enough toilet paper, soap, shampoo, and other essential items, too.
Safeguard the Bathroom
Personal hygiene is important, but it can be a dangerous task. With water, there’s always the chance of slips and falls and this risk is increased for those individuals who have recently had surgery. Because of this, you should take the necessary measures to increase bathroom safety.
One way to do this is to install grab bars in the shower and near the toilet. These will provide some stability when someone uses the toilet or the shower. Without a grab bar, you or your loved one may result in trying to use a towel rack to assist them, which is not strong enough and can cause an accident as a result.
When installing a grab bar, either place it horizontally or vertically to ensure it provides proper support.
Additionally, in the tub/shower, consider adding a non-slip mat or silicone decals that prevent slips and falls. Place any soaps, shampoos, and other products in an easily accessible area, not requiring someone to reach too high or low for it.
A shower chair can also be helpful for those individuals with more concerning mobility issues. But make sure the chair is equipped with rubber leg tips to prevent sliding.
Get Someone to Help You Out
Even if you take all the measures to make your transition home easier, post-surgery care is best achieved if you have someone to help you out. Depending on the extent of the surgery, it can be difficult to prepare even simple meals for yourself, bathe yourself, and dress yourself. With another person available to assist you and provide home care, you can make a full recovery quicker and avoid setbacks.
See if a family member or friend is available to provide you with assistance for a week or two. How long you will need help depends on the patient and their surgery. If not, then consider hiring a professional caregiver to provide post-surgery care.
After Surgery Home Care Services from Assisting Hands Home Care
At Assisting Hands Home Care, we offer after surgery home care services in Plainfield, IL, and the neighboring areas of Will and Kendall counties. Our post-surgery care services will benefit any individual — no matter their age — and help them make the transition home following a surgery or other procedure.
Our caregivers will help with bathing and other personal hygiene tasks, getting dressed, meal preparation, light housekeeping and 24 hour care, if necessary. We can even provide transportation services. With our post-surgery services, you or your loved one can focus on recovering while our caregiver makes sure you have the resources and assistance to do so.
