Following your discharge from the hospital after your joint replacement surgery, you may still require care and treatments once you are home. If you live alone and are unable to care for yourself after your surgery, consider the benefits of in-home personal caregivers. Here are some post-operative interventions in-home caregivers can provide to help promote your safe and speedy recovery after your joint replacement surgery.
Standby Assistance
When you return home from the hospital after your joint replacement surgery, you may be at risk for an in-home accident or injury. It can take weeks or even months before full weight-bearing status is achieved. If you had hip replacement surgery, it may take longer for you to feel comfortable bearing full weight on the affected side than if you had knee replacement surgery. Everyone's comfort levels and healing processes are different, however.
Because you may be unable to bear full weight on your lower extremities, you may become unsteady on your feet as a result of pain, inflammation, surgical wounds, or muscle atrophy from staying in bed. In-home personal caregivers can offer standby assistance when you go to the bathroom, shower, or ambulate. You may not need their assistance, however, if you become weak, experience pain, or feel dizzy, they will be there to provide immediate help.
Medication Administration And Monitoring
Your in-home personal caregiver can also administer your medications and monitor you for side effects from your new medications. For example, many joint replacement patients are prescribed anticoagulant medications following surgery, especially hip replacement surgery. This is to help lower the risk for postoperative blood clots, however, anticoagulant medications can cause side effects.
Your caregiver can monitor you for anticoagulant side effects such as excessive bruising, abnormal bleeding from the nose, mouth, and urinary tract, and watch for signs of internal bleeding such as shortness of breath and weakness. If you are still able to independently take your medications but need reminders to do so because you are still feeling groggy or fatigued from your general anesthesia, the caregiver can help with this too. In addition, you have questions about a prescription, the caregiver can call your healthcare provider or pharmacist.
If you are recovering from joint replacement surgery and need in-home caregiving services, call an agency for the information you need. In-home personal caregivers can offer the care and self-confidence you need to make your recovery as event-free and healthy as possible so that you can resume your enjoyable activities of daily living.
To learn more, contact a company like Concierge Senior Care Management Services.
