If your elderly loved one needs major surgery due to illness or injury, you have probably done lots of preparation for her regarding the surgery. Hiring a post-hospital care team before returning home should be a high priority.

Healing Safely at Home

And while there is always relief once the surgery is over and it’s successful, leaving the hospital doesn’t mean your loved one is done and ready to be back home by herself. Major surgeries often require long periods of recovery at home which means you need to help her make her home ready for her recovery period so that she can safely and quickly recover from her surgery.

Eight Tips For Home Recovery with Post-Hospital Care Services

Hire a post-hospital care provider. One of the best tips for someone recovering from home who doesn’t have family or friends who can consistently be there is to have a post-hospital care team step in to help with chores around the home and prepare meals so your loved one doesn’t need to focus on those chores. A post-hospital care team can also help with personal care such as bathing or dressing as your loved one recovers.

Determine where she’ll do most of her recovery. Does your loved one want to be in her bedroom or living room? Is there a bathroom nearby that doesn’t require steps? If not, will she use a personal commode to prevent having to climb the stairs? Keeping your loved one on one floor only will prevent over-exertion and reduce the likelihood of falls.

Declutter the home. Speaking of tripping and falling, make sure all areas that your loved one will be in are free from clutter and items on the floor. Pathways should be clear and if possible, have walls or railings your loved one can use for balance as she negotiates the area.

Arrange for pet care. If your loved one has a dog that needs to be walked or a kitty litter box that needs to be cleaned out, make sure there is someone who will help with these pet care chores. A post-hospital care team can help ensure pets are fed and their areas are cleaned so that your loved one only needs to enjoy their company as they recover.

Have easy meals ready. Eating well and staying hydrated are important aspects of healing. When visiting, your post-hospital care team can help prepare a meal or two, but you’ll also want to have snacks and drinks readily available for your loved one as she recovers. You might consider purchasing a small fridge to sit by where your loved one will spend most of her time recovering so she has easy access to water and some small snacks to hold her over between meals.

Arrange transportation. Most likely, there will be follow-up appointments but your loved one may not be able to drive to and from those appointments on her own. Find family members or ask her post-hospital care team to provide rides until she can drive herself.

Provide entertainment. Recovery can be boring. Making sure she has access to items that will keep her entertained while she rests. It might be books, a TV, her laptop, or some games or puzzles.

Make sure her phone stays charged. Having ready access to her phone to call friends or call for assistance. Make sure she’s set up so her phone is ready whenever she may need it.

If you or an aging loved one is considering Post-Hospital Care Services in Annapolis MD, please contact the caring staff at Vital Sign Home Care today. (410) 814-0258

A Trusted Skilled Medical and Non-Medical senior home care provider in Baltimore, Annapolis, Arnold, Severn, Guilford, Towson, Brooklandville, Catonsville, Cockeysville, Bel Air, Ellicott City, Columbia MD, and surrounding areas.

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Venus Ricks, RN CM/DN

CEO/Founder at Vital Sign Home Care

Venus Ricks love for people and desire to help others is why she became a Nurse. As a Registered Nurse, Venus took her nursing experience beyond the hospital floors. Inspired by her own story and desire to help others, she launched her healthcare training center. Ambitions at heart, never letting any grass grow under her feet, she didn't stop at training. Her tenure as a Delegating Nurse and need, motivated her to open Mabel's House Assisted Living in honor of her grandmother Mabel, serving the elderly and vulnerable population. Simultaneously, Vital Sign Home Care was also launched, serving the same population.

Venus had a stroke in 2018, she had no movement on the right side of her body and was unable to speak. Venus has made great progress since then and shows up everyday doing her best. She takes pride in overcoming obstacles and never giving up, which has allowed her to obtain a level of success in healthcare.

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