In many instances, joint replacement surgery remains the only option for older adults with osteoarthritis. Post-op seniors often heal faster when they’re allowed to transfer out of the hospital and into their homes. Here are a few simple ways to help an aging loved one recover from joint replacement surgery.
Consider the Basics
Prepare the home in advance of your loved one’s arrival. If your parent lives in a multistory home, he or she may feel more comfortable in a room on the first floor. Make sure the bed, bedside commode, and toilet aren’t too high. Have extra pillows and ice packs on hand. Place the TV remote, cell phone, and other devices within reach, and ensure the room provides a peaceful environment for sleep. Remove obstacles from pathways to prevent falls and provide assistance with sitting, standing, and lying down as needed.
Address Medical Needs
Get the necessary bandage materials, gauze, and tape for dressing changes. Evaluate the surgical site for inflammation, swelling, bruising, or drainage on a daily basis. Over time, visible trauma should begin to fade. An increase in redness, swelling, and heat on the site should be reported to the doctor.
Older adults who need help recovering from surgery can benefit from professional in-home care. Not every senior has the same care needs, which means they don’t all need the same type of senior care. Edmonton families can rely on Home Care Assistance to provide individualized care plans to meet their elderly loved ones’ unique care needs. Our holistic Balanced Care Method was designed to help seniors focus on healthy lifestyle habits such as eating nutritious foods, exercising regularly, and maintaining strong social ties, and our Cognitive Therapeutics Method offers mentally stimulating activities that can boost cognitive health and delay the onset of dementia.
Assist with Household Chores
After the surgery, your loved one may need a lot of rest to facilitate healing, which means you’ll likely need to perform various household chores and prepare nutritious meals while he or she recovers. Providing help with daily tasks goes a long way toward speeding up the recovery process.
Aging adults who require assistance with the tasks of daily living can benefit from reliable elder care. Families trust Home Care Assistance to provide the high-quality care their elderly loved ones need and deserve. Our caregivers are trained to help seniors prevent serious illnesses and encourage them to make healthier decisions as they age.
Be Supportive
A few weeks after the surgery, seniors are often advised to perform simple physical activities and attend rehab. Activities may include walking for a designated amount of time each day. Initially, movement may cause pain, so your loved one might be reluctant to complete the rehab plan. Offer support and encouragement as needed, provide medication to minimize discomfort, and keep a journal of your loved one’s progress as motivation.
Attend Follow-Up Appointments
Post-op appointments with physicians and therapists are necessary for monitoring the healing process and detecting possible health concerns. Keep track of upcoming appointments on a calendar, and attend appointments with your loved one. Report any abnormal symptoms at the incision site and side effects from medications. If you have any questions or concerns, write them down to get the answers you seek.
Manage Financial Concerns
Be prepared to help your loved one with routine monthly bills and medical expenses. By assuming responsibility for financial matters, your loved one may have less to worry about and can concentrate on healing.
If your aging loved one is managing a serious illness and needs help accomplishing everyday tasks, he or she can benefit from Edmonton live-in care. Seniors who need around-the-clock assistance can rely on professional live-in caregivers to prepare nutritious meals and snacks, assist with personal hygiene tasks like bathing and grooming, and provide timely medication reminders. If your loved one needs professional care, Home Care Assistance is here to help. Call one of our dedicated Care Managers today at (780) 490-7337 to learn about the high quality of our in-home care services.