Stay Diligent With After-Surgery Care
Cathy Shiroda
Chief Executive Officer / Owner of Generations Home Care, LLC, and Advisor
The road to recovery after surgery can be long and arduous. Depending on the procedure and the patient, it can take weeks or months to be fully independent after an operation. The key to a speedy and uncomplicated recovery is to practice good after-surgery care so your body can heal. By rearranging your home, preparing for your specific needs, and following your doctor’s advice, you can be back on your feet as quickly as possible.
Talk to Your Doctor
After-surgery care begins long before the surgery itself. If you or a loved one will soon need surgery, the time to start planning is now. To begin with, talk to your doctor about what to expect from the recovery process. You’ll want to get an idea of what medications, tools, or additional items to keep in the house so you can stock up on them before the surgery. Some items may be in limited stock or difficult to find, making it important to gather everything you’ll need with time to spare. In addition to medical supplies, don’t forget to stock up on meals and snacks. Prioritize nutritious, easy-to-prepare meals that won’t take a lot of effort or time. Healthy meals are essential as they provide your body with the energy it needs to heal.
Rearrange Your Home
Once you’ve gathered the necessary items and medications to aid in the healing process, the next step is to prepare your home. If your surgery will impact your mobility, plan on avoiding the stairs. You will likely want to move to a sleeping area on the ground floor during your recovery. In addition to arranging a new living space, you should also plan on clearing any obstacles or tripping hazards like throw rugs. A fall can be a devastating setback to after-surgery recovery.
Prepare for Limited Mobility
Once you’re back at home after your surgery, follow your doctor’s instructions to the letter. You will likely need to limit your mobility and keep up with prescribed medications throughout your recovery. It can be frustrating to modify your everyday habits even when you start to recover, but sticking to your after-surgery care plan is crucial. Even if you begin to feel better sooner than expected, moving around too much can rupture your incision and extend your healing process even further.
Avoid Infection
Your doctor will provide instructions on caring for your surgical incision as it heals. You may need to change dressings, clean the incision site, and inspect it for any warning signs in the early days after your operation. Always wash your hands before touching anywhere near your incision, and avoid using harsh chemicals to clean it unless instructed by your doctor. Most patients will only need to use soap and water to clean a surgical wound as it heals.
Be Mindful of Exacerbating Issues
Some people may need special care when recovering from surgery. For example, older adults may already have existing health conditions which impact surgical recovery. Limited mobility, arthritis, and slower healing times can affect how long a person needs to recover from surgery. Keep in mind any factors that might extend recovery time, and plan accordingly.
Get Help While You Recover
After surgery, getting back on your feet doesn’t need to be a painful slog. For people who value independence and self-sufficiency, spending long periods in bed or relying on loved ones to help with daily tasks can be uncomfortable. Rather than letting physical difficulties and mental stress interfere with your recovery, you might consider working with an in-home caregiver to get you back on your feet. A caregiver can prepare your favorite meals and help you overcome a loss of appetite, common after surgery. If you need help getting around the house, rearranging furniture, or even having someone on hand to bring you whatever you need, an in-home caregiver is your dedicated helper. Caregivers can also provide respite care for loved ones who need a break from looking after a family member who’s still recovering from surgery. Whatever you need, an in-home caregiver can help you make after-surgery care easy.
About Generations Home Care
Generations Home Care personalized in-home care and support services help those recovering from illness, injury, or surgery, living with a chronic disease, or dealing with the natural process of aging. We help people live a fuller, healthier, and independent life.
Our caregivers are trained in the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) recommended COVID-19 safety precautions. We offer levels of care ranging from companionship, to respite for the primary family caregiver, to homemaking services, to assistance with activities of daily living, to Alzheimer’s and dementia care. Generations Home Care takes a holistic approach and emphasizes a consistent, client-centered plan of care.
Our Specialty Services Include:
- Rehab or hospital-to-home programs for safe discharge.
- Short-term post-operative care during recovery periods.
- Non-medical life management services for people with chronic conditions.
- Veteran’s connection to care program.
- Live-in services and couples care.
If you’d like to learn more about how we can help you, contact us today at 602-595-HOME (4663) or by filling out the contact form on our website.