Tips for Recovering at Home After a Surgery
Recovering from surgery is rough for most people, but particularly seniors, who are at a much higher risk of being readmitted to the hospital following discharge. While recuperating at home is more comfortable than a hospital setting, there are important precautions to take.
Strategies for a Safe Recovery
Your body needs adequate time to heal post-surgery. Taking the right steps at home will help prevent complications that lead to readmission. If you’re having surgery soon, it’s a good idea to follow these tips upon returning home.
Follow Instructions
It’s essential to adhere to your physician’s discharge instructions in order to have a successful recovery. You’ll have to take any medications on a schedule, and may be in charge of your own wound care. Additionally, your doctor will likely give you guidelines for activity and monitoring your condition.
Take Your Medication as Prescribed
Managing pain is key to speeding up your healing time. Take your medication doses as advised by your physician, even if you think you no longer need them. You should also always be honest with your medical team about the amount of pain you’re in. They want to keep you as comfortable as possible while you’re recovering.
Monitor Incisions
Wounds always have the potential to become infected. Whether you’re handling your own wound care or a home health nurse, it’s crucial to remain on top of maintaining your incision, and be sure to watch out for signs of infection after surgery.
Stay Hydrated and Eat Nutritious Foods
Your immune system needs to be well supported in order to recover. Drink water to keep your tissues hydrated and try to consume nutritious foods to promote tissue repair. Several vitamins have been shown to aid in the wound healing process, including B12, C, D, and E.
Stay Active
Of course it’s important to get plenty of rest while you’re recuperating, but you should also fit in gentle movement when possible. This will help prevent infection, blood clots, and other issues. Chat with your doctor about light exercises you can do at home to increase your strength, in addition to any physical therapy you might need.
Transitional Care From Visiting Angels Can Help
Recovering from surgery can be overwhelming, not to mention hard to do without proper support. That’s where Visiting Angels Farmington comes in. Our hospital-to-home transitional care services are designed to help seniors recover safely and comfortably in the comfort of their own home following a medical procedure. With this program, our dependable caregivers will gladly assist you with medication reminders, mobility support, transportation to follow up appointments, and other non-medical, daily tasks. We’ll also work closely with your healthcare team to ensure all discharge instructions are being properly followed.
To learn more about transitional care and our other flexible in-home care options, please reach out today by filling out our contact form or calling 573-664-1722.