Surgical operations are often necessary to treat accidents, injuries, and various diseases. Before having surgical procedures, seniors should know what to expect and develop adequate pre- and post-operative care plans to boost their safety and increase their odds of successful recovery. Below are some tips to follow when helping your senior loved one prepare for surgery.
Ask Questions
An older adult shouldn’t approve a surgery unless he or she is comfortable with the procedure. To achieve an acceptable level of comfort, your parent should speak with his or her doctor, a surgeon, and other medical professionals about the operation, discuss the procedure’s benefits and possible side effects, and ask for all surgical and nonsurgical options. Asking questions can educate your loved one and instruct him or her on what steps to take before and after surgery and what to expect in the future. If your family isn’t satisfied with the answers, get a second opinion. Being confident about and comfortable with a surgical procedure could decrease the odds of problems.
It’s also important to plan for your loved one’s care after surgery, and older adults who need help during the recovery process can benefit from professional in-home care. Not every senior has the same care needs, which means they don’t all need the same type of homecare services. You can rely on Senior Stride Home Care to provide an individualized care plan to meet your elderly loved one’s unique care needs. Our holistic Balanced Care Method was designed to help seniors focus on healthy lifestyle habits, such as eating nutritious foods, exercising regularly, and maintaining strong social ties, and our Cognitive Therapeutics Method offers mentally stimulating activities that can stave off cognitive decline and delay the onset of dementia.
Discourage Heavy Eating & Drinking
Some doctors may ask aging adults not to drink anything a few hours prior to a procedure or suggest avoiding specific foods. Your loved one should speak with his or her nurses or the surgeon before the operation to learn what foods are acceptable pre-surgery and what to avoid. Keep in mind some items could prevent medications from working and increase the risk of psychological stress. The objective is to avoid issues such as blood clotting, digestive problems, and nausea.
Hiring a professional caregiver is a good way to speed up your parent’s recovery process after surgery. In Oshkosh, in-home care providers can benefit aging adults in a variety of ways. From cooking nutritious meals to offering timely medication reminders, the dedicated caregivers at Senior Stride Home Care are available to help your elderly loved one 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.
Discuss Costs
One of the most stressful aspects of surgery for seniors and their families is the cost. Insurance may not cover the entire operation and other medical expenses, which is why your loved one should know the fees associated with the surgery before agreeing to the procedure. There are often resources available to older adults to cover out-of-pocket surgical expenses. Some hospitals also offer payment plans. Regardless of the price, never let monetary concerns prevent your parent from getting medical treatment that could boost his or her overall health, quality of life, and longevity.
Inquire about Post-Surgery Care
It’s beneficial to choose a post-surgery care plan before your loved one is released from the hospital to boost his or her recovery odds. Post-surgical care is also essential to mental and emotional health. While preparing for a procedure, you don’t want your loved one stressing about who will help around the house, take him or her to run errands, or assist with recovery steps such as meal preparation, physical activities, and medication management. Therefore, your family should sit down before the surgery and develop an attainable post-surgery care plan that benefits your loved one.
Caring for a senior, both before and after surgery, can take a toll on a caregiver’s own health. Family caregivers need to care for their own wellbeing. If you’re caring for an aging loved one and are feeling overwhelmed, consider hiring a professional caregiver to provide respite care. Oshkosh families who want to prevent burnout can turn to Senior Stride Home Care. One of our professional caregivers can assist your loved one at home while you take a nap, go to work, run errands, or go on vacation. We will work with you to create a customized home care plan that’s suited for your loved one’s unique needs. Call the Senior Stride Home Care team at 920-717-1767 today.