Before and After Surgery
Any kind of surgery can be frightening and cause significant anxiety due to the unknown outcome. Surgery has three phases: pre-surgery preparations, post-surgery support, and ongoing assistance. Each phase entails attention to detail, a comprehensive plan, and lots of time. Better Way Home Care can support you and your family through all three phases so that your loved one’s recovery is safe and smooth.
Pre-Surgery Support
Assistance with scheduling and transporting to pre-op appointments.
Ensuring that pre-op instructions are understood and carried out.
Running any errands before going to the hospital.
Organizing and caring for the home by arranging for watering plants, pet care, and supporting a remaining spouse if there is one.
Packing all clothes and items needed while in the hospital. This could include hearing aids, glasses, a phone, a phone charger, an iPad, reading material, and any other requested items. Picking up additional items as needed during hospitalization.
Assisting with arranging for any durable medical equipment that will be needed.
Driving your loved one to the hospital if needed. Helping with check-in and all pre-op paperwork.
Providing companionship while in the hospital to ease anxiety and offer comfort.
Post-Surgery Support
Post-surgery support is critical to healing and recovery. Some patients go to rehab first, but most eventually return home.
Personal Care
Most people will need some assistance after surgery. Possible tasks include:
- Help with bathing, dressing, grooming, and toileting
- Assistance with transfers in and out of bed or a chair. Help with walking.
- Medication reminders and nursing oversight if needed to ensure compliance.
Shopping and Meal Preparation
- Shopping for healthy, nutritious foods that comply with any medical orders.
- Meal and snack preparation.
- Hydration reminders.
Transportation to Follow-up Appointments
Numerous follow-up medical appointments can occur post-surgery. Home care staff can provide safe and timely transportation to these appointments, accompany your loved one into the office, and wait to return them home.
Reinforcement of Post-Surgery Instructions
Post-surgery instructions are vital to recovery and healing. Home care staff reinforce instructions and monitor progress, reporting to the family. If additional nursing care is needed, Better Way Home Care can provide that service.
Household Assistance
After surgery, managing a household may be challenging and risky. Home care staff can assist with housekeeping, light maintenance, and arranging yard care or snow removal.
Companionship
Returning home after surgery can be overwhelming and stressful. Family can visit to provide support and care, but probably not 24 hours a day. A home care companion can offer enormous comfort and engage in activities such as reading, playing games, watching movies, going on outings as appropriate, arranging for visitors, etc.
Ongoing Support From Better Way Home Care
Recovery from surgery is a journey and takes time and commitment to the process of healing. Better Way Home Care provides wrap-around services to support your loved one and your family as you go through the health care system. We also offer in-home virtual health services for clients who cannot access health services outside the home. Our medical care management program helps families navigate the complexities of the healthcare system to ensure seamless communication between providers and the following of all health protocols. Better Way Home Care also offers 24-hour and overnight care as needed. Call us to assess your family’s needs so that you can have confidence that your loved one is cared for and on their way to regaining function and independence.
