Top Tips for Home Care After Hip Replacement Surgery

Preparation is key for home care after hip replacement surgery. There are many steps you can take prior to surgery to prepare to take care of your loved one as they recover at home.

Determine where your loved one will recover

Will your loved one feel most comfortable recovering in their own home? Will you move them into your home or another relative’s home temporarily? Knowing the recovery location is vital to all of the other advanced planning for your loved one’s postoperative caregiving.

Accompany your loved one to their preoperative appointment

You can use this time to learn about your loved one’s individual needs following surgery. Ask for written instructions when possible so you can reread them as necessary.

If the surgeon recommends preoperative exercises, inquire if and how you can assist your loved one with these. Find out if your loved one will need specialized assistive equipment or specific pain medications during recovery. If your loved one’s surgeon asks them to stop smoking or lose weight before surgery, ask how to best support your loved one in these efforts.^[01]

Let our care assessment guide you

Gather necessary supplies for the home environment

Consult with your loved one before gathering supplies to understand their perspective and respect their autonomy. Encourage your loved one to help shape their home recovery environment when possible.

After speaking to your loved one’s surgeon, work with their medical team, pharmacist, medical supplier, and others to bring all necessary supplies to their home before the surgery. This will make for an easier transition than scrambling to do all these steps the day of the surgery.

While each surgeon’s instructions may vary, these are some common items you may need to gather or install in your loved one’s recovery space, according to the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons:

• Handrails or safety bars securely attached to the shower or bathtub
• A sturdy shower bench or chair along with a long-handled sponge and shower hose attachment
• An elevated toilet seat
• Handrails on all stairs in the home
• Dressing aids, such as a dressing stick, sock aid, or long-handled shoehorn
• A stable chair with firm cushions, two arms, and a back
• Firm pillows for seating areas your loved one may use
• A reaching device, which will allow your loved one to grab items without bending their hips
• A walking device, such as a cane, crutches, or a walker ^[02]

It’s also important to follow basic home safety tips to maintain a safe and secure environment for your loved one while they recover from hip replacement surgery.

Create a transportation plan

How will your loved one travel home from the hospital following surgery? Ask your loved one’s care team for specific instructions on traveling in a private vehicle. Your loved one will likely have driving restrictions following the surgery. If this is true for your loved one, they should refrain from driving until cleared by their doctor.^[03]

It’s likely your loved one will need to attend postoperative medical appointments, too. Think about who will drive your loved one to these appointments that occur while your loved one still isn’t driving.

Once your loved one is cleared to drive, you may need to work with your loved one’s surgeon and your state government to help your loved one obtain a temporary disabled parking permit.^[02] This will typically allow your loved one to park in disabled parking spaces at medical facilities, stores, and other essential places.

Talk with a Senior Living Advisor

Determine daily care needs

In the weeks following the hip replacement surgery, your loved one may need intensive support at home. Discuss with your loved one what foods they like, and prepare those meals in advance. If they prefer take out or a food home delivery service, help them set that up in advance.

If your loved one has a pet, it may be necessary to either care for the pet yourself temporarily after surgery or hire a pet sitter to care for the pet. If your loved one has indoor plants, you may need to arrange for someone to water them for your loved one.

You’ll also need to decide how laundry, shopping, cleaning, yard care, and other necessary tasks will be handled. In addition, your loved one may need support with personal care activities, such as showering, bathing, and toileting.

Select a caregiver

If you plan to be your loved one’s primary caregiver, consider how much time you can spend with your loved one. If you are a long-distance caregiver, you may need to plan an in-person visit or hire an in-home caregiver. It’s quite common to share the caregiving responsibilities between adult children or a spouse and a paid in-home caregiver.

When it comes to in-home care, you can choose from home care providers and home health care providers. Home care providers offer support with activities of daily living and other nonmedical support to clients, while home health care providers offer medical-focused support. In some cases, Medicaid may pay for home health care for qualified individuals. You can hire an in-home caregiver to help with your loved one’s hip replacement recovery before the surgery takes place. This type of care is often referred to as transitional home care.

Read more:How to Pay for Home Care: Costs, Care Options, and Financial Resources

While the typical hip replacement surgery only takes a few hours, the initial recovery can take weeks to months. Most people only start to be able to do light activities of daily living after three to six weeks.^[02]

A full recovery typically occurs at least one year after surgery, though some people may recover faster. Your loved one’s overall health and fitness affect their recovery trajectory.^[01]

Recovery may also vary based on the following:

• If both hips were replaced at the same time
• If the surgery was a total or partial hip replacement
• The type of surgical method used (invasiveness, location of incision, etc.)
• Other underlying health conditions

Following the surgery, a caregiver can help promote their loved ones’ recovery by offering essential support and encouragement.

Follow medical instructions

Your loved one may feel disoriented or in pain following the surgery. You may need to assist them with following the recovery instructions given by their medical care team. This can include medication reminders, helping them stay hydrated, cleaning the incision wound, or assisting with regular trips to the restroom.

Watch for complications

Following the surgery, your loved one’s medical care team will likely tell you things to watch out for when it comes to your loved one’s health. While the complication rate is low for hip replacement surgery, it’s still a good idea to watch for signs of infections or blood clots as directed by your loved one’s surgeon.^[02]

Attend follow-up appointments

It’s important to help your loved one attend any follow-up appointments as directed by their medical care team. These visits play a vital role in ensuring a successful recovery for your loved one.

With a hip replacement, it’s common for your loved one’s surgeon to also refer them to physical therapy and occupational therapy. These rehabilitation therapies can help your loved one practice necessary life activities, such as climbing stairs or getting out of a chair.^[04]

Provide emotional support

The recovery period after a hip replacement surgery can be scary for your loved one. Be sure to reassure them that their condition will improve, and let them know that you care — even if you live far away.

Here are some ways to offer emotional support:

• Bringing them flowers and cards from friends and family
• Offering to watch a favorite movie with them to pass the time
• Setting up virtual visits, such as video chats, regularly
• Sending packages with their beloved snacks through the mail

While emotional support and attention are wonderful for lifting spirits, remember that rest is important in the days and weeks following surgery.

Take care of yourself, too

As a caregiver, you’ll need to be prepared to help your loved one for an extended period of time following the surgery. Caregiving can take a toll on your mental, emotional, and physical wellness. You should take self-care steps to prevent caregiver burnout throughout this time.

Taking care of yourself may include utilizing an in-home care professional caregiver to provide respite care. This allows you to take a moment to meet with a friend for coffee or attend to your own medical needs while the professional caregiver stays at the home to assist your loved one in your place. In-home care can take place on a short-term or long-term basis depending on your loved one’s recovery timeline.

Read more:Hip Replacement: Tips for a Safe Recovery

As a caregiver, preparing for your loved one to have a major surgery requires a lot of effort, care, and consideration. You don’t have to go on this journey alone. The Senior Living Advisors at A Place for Mom can help you locate local in-home care options that meet your loved one’s unique needs. These advisors can also help family caregivers locate local assisted living options, in case home care is no longer a viable option.