Helping Your Loved One Recover After Major Surgery

Major surgery is never fun, and for an elderly individual, recovering from major surgery can take much longer than it would for a younger person. Your loved one will most likely need extra assistance in many aspects of her daily living. If the surgery is planned, it can help your loved one enter the surgery with a greater peace of mind knowing that she’ll have all the help she needs after the surgery is over and she’s able to head home. If it is an unexpected surgery, then you might need to hustle a bit more to get her the resources she needs, but you can still get a lot done before she leaves the hospital or recovery unit.

Four Steps in Getting Home Ready for Your Loved One

• The very first step is to talk with her doctors about what her recovery will look like. While they won’t be able to exactly predict her entire recovery journey, they should be able to help you determine how long recovery will take, what her physical needs will be, and what after-treatment will be required.
• The next step is to determine where your loved one will go after her surgery, and part of this decision will lie in how many physical restrictions she may have after surgery. You might want her to come home with you, but if you live in a multi-level home with a lot of stairs, it may not be best. You may also want to stay with her, but if you have other responsibilities, like children, that might be feasible.
• Prepare her recovery area before she gets released. You might need to move furniture around, add in some comfort items, and perhaps install some support items such as railings in the bathroom or extra lighting in a room. Her main recovery area should be a good mix of both practical and comforting.
• Make plans for pets. If your loved one has a pet she cares for, she might want to have that pet with her as she recovers (a snuggling cat or small dog can provide a world of comfort), but she might also need help caring for her pet. She may not be able to take the dog for its walks or clean up the litterbox for her cat as needed. Even smaller pets, such as fish and rodents, will need daily care while she’s recovering.
• Plan for meals. A big part of recovery is not only rest, but eating healthy meals and drinking plenty of liquids. Make sure your loved one is stocked up with what she needs, as well as has a safe and easy way to get more as needed.
  Live-in Care Can Help with Recovery

For those families who cannot have someone stay with their loved one after a major surgery, live-in care can provide the support your loved one will need during this time. Live-in care can be there around the clock so she can get the help she needs at all hours of the day. She can rely on her live-in care to help her make meals, bathe, get to appointments, and manage her home. Live-in care can be an excellent option for someone who wants to stay in their own home but will need around-the-clock care for a while.

If you or an aging loved one are considering Live-In Care in Thomasville, NC, contact the caring professionals at TenderHearted Home Care today. Call us at (704) 612-4132