Surgery can help mitigate many different age-related conditions and significantly improve your quality of life. As a result, many older adults find themselves scheduling some kind of surgical procedure in their golden years. While surgery can offer a lot of benefits, it does present the risk of complications, and proper preparation is necessary in order to increase your odds of a smoother post-surgery recovery.
Here’s what you need to know about preparing for recovery after your procedure, from understanding wound care to selecting post-surgery clothing:
Communicate With Your Care Team
Get to know your care team prior to the surgery. Don’t be afraid to ask them questions about what to expect before, during and after the procedure. There is no such thing as too much knowledge before a surgery! Make sure that you have a clear picture of exactly what will happen during the procedure and what your expected recovery looks like.
You should also provide your care team with a list of prescriptions you are currently taking so that they don’t accidentally prescribe a medication that will interfere with the others you are currently taking.
Get An At-Home Caregiver
Unless your surgery is a very minor outpatient procedure, it’s unlikely that you will be able to resume normal life immediately. Instead, you will likely need some level of caregiving for at least a few days — and possibly weeks or months — after the surgery. In many cases, a relative, friend or other loved one will be able to provide the care that you need to recuperate after surgery.
However, if the procedure is very involved and has a high risk of complications, or you will need around-the-clock care, you may want to look into hiring a home health aide or home care nurse.
Paid caregivers can provide various levels of support, from handling household tasks like cleaning and cooking to providing medical care. If you do hire professional help, make sure the person is certified to provide the care that you need.
Make Modifications To Your Home
Homes aren’t designed with surgical recovery in mind, so you might need to make some modifications to your living situation to ensure that it will still be safe for you after the surgery. Talk with your doctor about what your mobility will be like after the procedure and what hazards you should prepare for. Some changes you might need to make include removing tripping hazards such as rugs and electrical cords, installing grab bars in the bathroom and investing in a toilet seat riser. Make all of these upgrades before the procedure so that your home is completely ready upon your return.
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Choose Post-Surgery Clothing Carefully
While you don’t have to keep wearing a hospital gown, you might not be able to wear your regular clothing after the procedure either. Not only will there be at least some swelling, anything that chafes or binds can restrict your movement and potentially irritate the incision site. Choose loose, soft hospital clothes for patients that don’t sit directly on the incision site.
You might also wish to invest in some dedicated post-surgery clothing if you will need to frequently access the incision and don’t want to disrobe each time. If your mobility will be significantly restricted after the procedure, adaptive clothing can also make it easier for you to get dressed either alone or with a caregiver.
Learn About Wound Care and Prescriptions
Proper wound care is critical to promote healing and fend off potential infection. Each incision is different and has different care protocols. For example, some stitches dissolve on their own, while you’ll need to go back to the doctor to get others removed. Some wounds should be cleaned regularly, while others should be left alone. Always follow your surgeon’s instructions for wound care.
You should also familiarise yourself with any prescriptions that you will be taking after the procedure and follow the schedule and dosage as closely as possible. If your pharmacy will allow it, try to pick up your medications the day before the procedure so you don’t have to stop at a pharmacy on your way home.
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Watch Out For Warning Signs
You need to closely monitor your incision site for signs of infection, such as pus, drainage, fever, chills, redness, soreness and bad smells. If you think that you might have a surgical site infection (SSI), then you need to contact your doctor immediately to see whether or not you need to come in for an examination.
Seniors and their caregivers should also be alert for lingering side effects of anaesthesia, such as confusion, fogginess and forgetfulness. Some medications can also make patients groggy or confused as well, compounding the effect. If you or your loved one remains confused in the days after the surgery, contact your doctor so they can help you determine the cause.
Stick With Follow-Up Appointments
The surgery is only the first step in your recovery process. You will also have follow-up appointments with your doctor, and likely physical therapy as well. Make sure that you follow through on whatever appointments you need to after the surgery.
We know it can be hard to motivate yourself to go back to the doctor or to keep up with months of physical therapy, but sometimes your effort is what makes the difference in the long run. In some cases, physical therapy is actually necessary to gain back or improve your pre-surgery functioning. If you don’t keep up with it, it could seriously impact the quality of your day-to-day life.
Follow these tips to prepare for your surgery and increase your odds of a smooth recovery. Good luck during the procedure, and we wish you a speedy recovery!