Hundreds of thousands of older adults undergo hip replacement surgery each year. This type of surgery can make a tremendous difference in your parent’s health, well-being, function, and quality of life as they get older. As with any other major medical procedure, hip replacement surgery requires recovery. Your parent will only remain in the hospital for four to six days after the procedure, but the recovery will last for much longer. On average, recovery will take between six and twelve months. During this time your loved one will get accustomed to the new joint, build strength, and allow their body to heal. While it is important that they keep progressing throughout their recovery, it is also vital that they do not put excessive stress and strain on their new joint. This can lead to serious complications including rejection of the joint, opening of the wound, infection, and the need for more surgery. As a family caregiver, you can help your parent progress through their recovery while also not overdoing it and putting their health and well-being at risk.
Use these tips to ensure that your parent does not overdo it after hip replacement surgery:
• Prepare meals for them. Standing in the kitchen to prepare meals, reaching for ingredients, and lifting heavy items can put a tremendous amount of stress on your parent’s new hip. Movements such as bending at the waist, crouching, and twisting are particularly dangerous. Eliminate this need by preparing meals for them before their surgery and putting them in the freezer so all they need to do to is warm up the meal that they want.
• Move their bedroom downstairs. If possible, move your parent’s bedroom downstairs. If you cannot, invest in a chair lift for the stairs. This eliminates the strain of getting up and down stairs, which is something that your parent will not be able to do in the first few weeks of recovery.
• Delegate tasks. Your parent will likely want to get back to their usual routine as soon as possible, but taking care of the home and running errands can be strenuous for your parent during their recovery. Make sure that your parent does not overdo it during their recovery by delegating these tasks for them. Build a care team of friends, family, and even a professional care provider who can take care of tasks such as tidying the home, taking out the trash, walking the dog, and running errands.
• Set goals. Help your parent know how much they should progress and the amount of activity that they should get on a regular basis throughout their recovery period. Talk to their doctor and find out the projections for their improvements and set goals for what they should be able to do and when at various points throughout their recovery. This can help your parent to understand what they should be doing and the steps that they should reach rather than trying to push themselves too hard.
Starting elder care can be one of the best decisions that you can make throughout your caregiver journey with your aging loved one. This is particularly true if your senior suffers from serious limitations or challenges, or is preparing to undergo or has recently undergone a serious medical procedure such as a hip replacement. An elderly home care services provider can be with your aging parent on a customized schedule to ensure that they get all of the care, support, and assistance that they need, when they need it. This also ensures that you are still able to give them the care that you are able to and maintain the schedule that is best for both of you. Through a highly personalized set of services, this care provider can help your parent through the challenges of recovery, prepare for future
challenges, and make the most of this new chapter in their lives. When it comes to getting through the recovery phase, this can include providing physical support and assistance, taking care of tasks throughout the home so that your parent does not have to, and providing reminders and encouragement to keep them compliant with their medications and treatments.
http://www.prevention.com/health/hip-replacement
http://www.mayoclinic.org/tests-procedures/hip-replacement/details/how-you-prepare/ppc-20313793
http://www.webmd.com/osteoarthritis/guide/hip-replacement-surgery#1
SOMETIMES A LITTLE HELP AROUND THE HOUSE AND A REGULAR COMPANION CAN BRIGHTEN A SENIOR’S LIFE. IF YOU OR AN AGING LOVED-ONE ARE CONSIDERING IN-HOME ELDER CARE IN GLENDALE, AZ, CONTACT THE CARING STAFF AT GOLDEN HEART SENIOR CARE. CALL TODAY (623) 748-3301.