Prepare Your Home Before Surgery
How to Prepare Your Home Before Your Surgery With Dr Jason Ward
Before you check in to hospital, plan ahead to ensure your home will be hazard-free when you return. Setting up your home will allow you to move around more easily after surgery, reducing your risk of falls or injury.
Here are some top tips to make your home safe.
Tips and Guides On How to Prepare Before Surgery
- Get help
Make sure you have a support person to assist you when adjusting your home prior to surgery. If you live alone, ask a family member or friend to move in to assist you in the first few days after surgery.
- Accessing your home
Consider how to access your home safely after hospital. Clear pathways of garden hoses, pot plants or debris and check your paths are not broken or uneven. If you can’t fix them, try to avoid these areas completely.
- Remove obstructions
Position your furniture to give clear walkways, and allow to get around using walking aids. Remove any mats or rugs that might cause you to trip or slip.
- Avoid stairs
If possible, think about sleeping downstairs if your main bedroom is usually upstairs.
- Adjust your seating
You should have a seat that is slightly higher than normal, where the seat of the chair is at, or above, the level of your knee when you are standing. Your chair should have a firm seat and arm rests, so you can sit down and stand up without difficulty.
- Make your bathroom accessible
Remove mats and rugs.Ensure toilet paper is within easy reach. Install a non-slip rubber mat on the shower recess floor. Tie a soap in a stocking or rope to the tap so you can access it easily if you drop it. Remove any loose bath rails you may be tempted to use for support.
- Make adjustments to your bedroom
Remove mats and rugs. Ensure an easy-to-use lamp is on your bedside table in case you need to get up in the night. Remove any clutter, such as clothes and shoes, from around the bed and along the pathway to the toilet.
If possible, ensure you have a firm, supportive bed to make it easier to get on and off the mattress.
- Plan your home duties
If you don’t have a support person who can help you with cleaning around the house, consider organising a cleaning service. Ensure laundry or washing detergent is stored within easy reach, and not on low or high shelves. Have a clothes horse set up and ready to use.
- Plan your meals and groceries
Freeze handy meals or stock up on pre-cooked meals to cover the first couple of weeks at home. Organise grocery deliveries with your local supermarket.
- Hire or purchase suitable equipment
There are many aids to help you in your home. Discuss what you might need with your physio or the team at the hospital. These might include:
- Elbow crutches.
- A walking frame.
- An over-toilet frame with arms, which can help you use the toilet more easily.
- Long-handled aids or a dressing stick to help you shower and dress.
- A pick-up reacher to help you pick up items from the floor.
- A long shoehorn.
- A shower stool or chair.
Dr Jason Ward, Adelaide Specialist Orthopaedic Surgeon
Treatments vary depending on the diagnosis and cause of your condition. Dr Jason Ward provides individualised conservative and surgical management options suited to a range of conditions affecting the knee.