If your loved one is about to undergo surgery, there’s probably a lot on your mind. The thought of someone you love being put under can be intimidating enough, but there’s also the recovery period to consider. If you don’t feel well equipped to take care of your loved one after they’ve been discharged, check out the tips in this handy article to set your mind at ease.
Ask Questions
One of the best things you can do for your loved one is to ask questions of their doctors and nurses. Before they are discharged, make sure their provider thoroughly goes over any recovery requirements with you and don’t be afraid to ask as many questions as you need. If a concern arises once you get home, call the hospital and voice it; no question is dumb.
Hire Help
If you are financially able to do so, hiring help can be the absolute quickest and easiest way to ensure your loved one is properly cared for during their recovery period. There are plenty of home health care agencies in MD that can provide you with specialized nurses or aides who know exactly how to help someone recover from surgery. Not only can this person help with medications and therapy exercises, they can also monitor for any complications that may arise.
Get Organized
If you opt to manage your loved one’s care on your own, it’s best that you stay as organized as possible. Oftentimes patients have multiple prescription medications they must take in the days or weeks following a surgery, and this can be quite intimidating and overwhelming. A great way to circumvent that stress is to use a patient recovery app or create a spreadsheet on your computer or phone that carefully outlines exactly when you need to administer each medication. You can print this or keep it as an electronic version, but make sure you are able to check off each time you give the medication so you can stay on track.
Reach Out to Friends
Taking care of an invalid can be a full-time job, but it’s likely you already have other things you need to manage. To lessen your load, call on your friends and family members for assistance. Ask people to bring meals, do laundry, or simply come and visit with the patient so you can take a nap, shower, or just relax for a little while. Make the most of your community.
To help your loved one recover from surgery, ask their doctors questions, hire help if possible, stay organized, and reach out to your community for any assistance you need.