After-Surgery Home Care: Tips for Seniors and Caregivers

A senior’s specific needs will vary depending on the type of surgery they had. For example, a hip replacement surgery may require more care over a longer period of time than a cataract surgery. For this reason it’s important to make sure your senior loved one’s environment and activities fit their needs following a surgery.

Whether you’re caring for your loved one yourself or hiring a professional caregiver, consider the following ways to support them after surgery:

Gather adaptive devices

Your loved one’s doctor may recommend specific adaptive items to help with recovery. These may include a walker, crutches, a shower chair, an elevated toilet seat, and more.

Assemble comfort items

To help minimize disorientation or confusion after a surgery, make sure to have your loved one’s assistive items, like glasses or hearing aids, ready when they arrive home. Place their favorite cup or mug near their recovery area to encourage hydration. Make them a comfy space that includes their preferred blanket or other special items.

Be mindful of lighting

To prevent falls, make sure there’s adequate lighting in spaces where your parent will be walking or moving. Being near a window for natural light and outdoor views may help with readjustment. Nightlights are a good way to light the path to the bathroom night.

Purchase medical supplies

Typically, your loved one’s doctor will supply a list of items to have on hand following the surgery. This may include an oxygen tank, bandages, gauze, antibiotic ointment, prescription and over-the-counter medicines, ice packs, or heating pads. Gather these supplies in advance to prevent delays in care.

Set up safe sleeping arrangements

Your loved one’s doctor may provide specific directions for how your loved one can safely sleep. If a limb needs to be elevated, have something on hand to raise it in the bed. If they’ll need to use the restroom frequently, consider moving them to a room near the bathroom. A portable bedside commode is another option that can help reduce the need for nighttime bathroom visits.

Keep walkways clear

Keep floors free from clutter, especially electrical cords and other trip hazards. If there are slippery surfaces in their home, encourage your parent to wear socks with a grippy texture or rubber-soled slippers and shoes.

Encourage rest

It’s common for someone to want to return to their normal life as soon as possible after surgery, but overexertion can slow their recovery. As a caregiver, reassure your loved one that that it’s okay to rest and take the time to heal.

Provide assistance with lifting

Surgical incisions can be delicate after a patient returns home from the hospital. Often, doctors will advise patients to temporarily refrain from bending and lifting. Caregivers can assist with household chores helping their recovering loved one to avoid lifting heavy items.^[01]

Assist with doctor-ordered exercises

To prevent blood clots, your loved one’s care team may provide instructions for exercises that promote blood flow without risking damage to the surgical incision.^[05] Caregivers can assist with these exercises and provide encouragement.

Make plans for mental stimulation

Help your loved one stay mentally engaged with activities like watching movies, reading books, or working on a puzzle together. You may consider placing voice-controlled device nearby, such as an Amazon Alexa-enabled device , so they can listen to music, news, and audiobooks and set reminders while limiting movement.

Is home care the right fit?

When your loved one arrives home from the hospital, they may need support and care that they cannot provide for themselves. Their unique care needs may be met through any combination of family caregiving, home care, and home health care.

Family caregiving

An adult child or other family member can support an older adult after a surgery by helping with communication, chores and other activities of daily living including the following:

• Communication with the surgeon
• Provide medication reminders
• Transportation to follow-up appointments
• Run errands, plan meals, and food preparation
• Help with light housekeeping and laundry
• Assist with bathing and toileting
• Help with mobility
• Provide companionship
• Pet care

Home care

Home care provides nonmedical care by a professional caregiver in the client’s home. Caregivers offer similar care to what a family caregiver can provide. Hiring a professional home care aide is a good option for families who cannot care for a loved one on their own or do not live close to their aging parent.

A home care aide can also provide respite. This is ideal for family caregivers who work, have children, or need a break to avoid caregiver burnout.

Home health care

If your loved one has specific medical care needs, home health care may be better fit for after surgery care. Home health care is typically prescribed by a doctor and is provided by a medical professional in your loved one’s home.

Home health care offers medically necessary services including the following:

• Medication administering
• Wounds or incision care
• Post-surgery health monitoring
• Communication with the surgeon or pharmacist

Read more: Using Long-Term Care Insurance for In-Home Care

Home care questions? Get expert help

For seniors who require medical care after a surgery, their doctor will usually prescribe home health care and recommend a home health care agency. Families can also research and hire a home health care agency on their own.

If your loved one’s post-surgery recovery doesn’t require medical care, consult with their physician for specific care instructions. Consider hiring a professional caregiver in the following situations:

• Your loved one has expressed that they’d prefer a professional caregiver instead of a family caregiver.
• You are unable to lift or move your parent without potentially injuring your loved one or yourself.
• Time constraints or other responsibilities limit your ability to provide care.
• Your loved one needs 24/7 care.
• Your loved one needs transportation in a wheelchair-accessible vehicle.

The median cost for nonmedical home care is $30 per hour according to A Place for Mom’s proprietary data.^[01] The total cost will vary based on where a senior lives and the amount of care they require.

Home health care is usually temporary and is prescribed by a doctor. Medically necessary home health care is often covered by Medicaid or Medicare. It may also be covered by some private insurance plans so be sure to check with your loved one’s provider.

It can be emotionally and physically challenging to care for a loved one as they recover from a surgery or another medical condition but there are a variety of care options for your family.

A Place for Mom’s Senior Living Advisors can help you explore care in-home care, respite care, and even assisted living. They can recommend senior care in your loved one’s area that fits their budget unique needs — all at no cost to you and your family.