Having surgery can be stressful or even frightening, no matter how old you are, but having surgery as a senior can seem especially fraught. If you have an elderly loved one who is undergoing surgery soon, you’re undoubtedly concerned about how to provide the best possible after-surgery care once your loved one returns home.
At Miami Valley Homecare, our professional team provides personal, particular care to every one of our clients, every day. As your family member returns home to recover from their medical procedure, one of our caregivers can ensure a comfortable transition back into daily life, assisting with both post-surgery care and daily tasks. Here’s how we provide answers to some of your most commonly asked after-surgery questions.
Mental Care
Medication from a surgical procedure makes everyone’s brain foggy and confused for a little while. For seniors, this effect can be intensified, even if they don’t have any pre-existing signs of dementia. If you’re worried about your loved one being disoriented after surgery, our home care team can help.
Our experts know the best way to explain what’s happening, provide reassurance, and spot any signs of mental distress that ought to be further addressed by your doctor. While caring for your loved one’s physical wellbeing, it’s also vital to care for their mental wellbeing.
Emotional Care
It can be upsetting for seniors when they’re no longer capable of doing everything by themselves. This frustration can be amplified after surgery, when daily tasks are likely to be even more difficult than before.
Our caregivers do more than handle your loved one’s practical needs—we also address the emotional areas of recovery. Your family member should never feel ashamed to ask for or accept help. We treat all of our clients with dignity and respect, no matter how they require assistance.
Physical Care
This is the most straightforward area of post-surgery care. Physical care means changing bandages. It means ensuring that medications are taken on time, baths or showers remain regular, food is provided at appropriate meal times, and necessary transportation (for instance, to checkup appointments) is arranged.
Environmental Care
Preparing your family member’s home for post-surgery recovery might be more involved than you anticipated.
If your loved one normally sleeps upstairs or downstairs in a multi-level house, it would be best to arrange an alternative sleeping location on the main level of the house, whether by moving their bed or outfitting a different one.
If there’s usually clutter that could trip your loved one when they’re still feeling foggy, it’s best to clean that clutter ahead of time. If there often isn’t enough food in the house to last very long, a shopping trip is in order. Overall, it’s important to maintain an environment that is simple, accessible, and personal. If your loved one is going to recover from surgery at home, they should feel at home, too, despite the atypical circumstances.
To learn more about our services at Miami Valley Homecare, contact us today to have your questions answered or schedule part- or full-time care for your loved one. We’re proud to serve Dayton Ohio and the surrounding area, including Centerville, Kettering, Xenia, Beavercreek, Fairborn, Dayton and Oakwood.
