Hip replacement surgery is not something to be taken lightly. The idea of a prolonged recovery and loss of independence, even if it’s only temporary, may seem daunting. If your aging loved one is facing hip replacement surgery, the following tips can make his or her recovery as easy as possible.
Plan Ahead for Support
Plan to have someone with your loved one around the clock for the first few days he or she is at home. Your loved one will also need assistance with cleaning, preparing meals, running errands, and performing other tasks for the first couple of weeks, so you may want to enlist family and friends to help or arrange for a home caregiver.
Caring for a senior loved one can be challenging for families who don’t have expertise or professional training in home care, but this challenge doesn’t have to be faced alone. Family caregivers can turn to Oshkosh Home Care Assistance for the help they need. We provide high-quality live-in and respite care as well as comprehensive Alzheimer’s, dementia, stroke, and Parkinson’s care.
Don’t Expect to Recover According to a Set Schedule
Everyone heals at their own pace. Your loved one’s overall health, commitment to physical therapy, and mental state can all affect the speed of recovery. Be supportive and encouraging, but don’t push your loved one harder or faster than his or her personal limit or what can reasonably be expected from a person of his or her age, condition, and stage of recovery. It is also important to remember that surgery takes an emotional toll as well as a physical toll. It is not unusual for a person to experience temporary changes in mood following a major trauma like surgery. These types of changes may be especially apparent if your loved one has dementia or another cognitive disorder.
Adapt the Living Space
Start by decluttering your loved one’s home and removing rugs and other trip hazards. Try to create a comfortable spot where your loved one has a favorite chair, TV, and other items he or she may need within easy reach. Accessibility and mobility aids such as a walker, raised toilet seat, and grab bars in the bathroom can also make recovery easier and safer.
Some seniors need occasional assistance at home, and oftentimes the family members who take care of them need time away to run errands, take a nap, go to work, or take a vacation. Oshkosh respite care experts from Senior Stride Home Care are available on an as-needed basis, giving your family peace of mind that your loved one will remain safe and comfortable while you relax or focus on other important responsibilities.
Don’t Forget the 90-Degree Rule
Until advised by a doctor, your loved one should avoid bending more than 90 degrees from the hip. Make sure your loved one does not:
- Sit on low or soft chairs or sofas
- Lean forward while sitting
- Cross his or her legs while sitting or lying down
- Turn his or her feet in or out when standing
Remain Active
Engaging in regular physical activity will make the new hip stronger and more flexible. Your loved one’s doctor or physical therapist can recommend exercises and activities that are safe for the first few weeks following surgery. Once your loved one has recovered, low-impact activities such as walking and swimming can help him or her stay fit without putting too much stress on the hip.
If your elderly loved one is living with a serious medical condition and needs help managing the tasks of daily living, reach out to Senior Stride Home Care, an Oshkosh senior care agency you can trust. Our caregivers are available 24/7, there are no hidden fees in our contracts, and we offer a 100% satisfaction guarantee on all of our in-home care services. Call one of our Care Managers at 920-717-1767 to learn about how a professional caregiver can benefit your senior loved one.