Tips for Preparing Your Parent's Home for Recovery After Hip Surgery

• Make them a place to rest and sleep downstairs. Climbing stairs will not be something your parent can do in the beginning part of their recovery. Not only will it be too difficult for them, but it can also lead to damage to the surgical area. Bringing their bed downstairs or renting a hospital bed for them to use during their recovery.
• Prepare meals for during their recovery. Cooking will be challenging for your parent during this time. They may not be able to stand up for long periods and may be too tired to cook. Reduce this strain, and ensure they get the nutrients they need, by preparing healthy meals and freezing them so your parent can thaw and warm them to eat during their recovery.
• Clean thoroughly. Before your parent returns home, clean the house thoroughly, or have a company deep-clean the house. This will help to create a healthier environment and prepare for a germ control approach that will help keep your parent healthier throughout their recovery.
• Equip for handling care needs. Think about all of your parent's personal care needs and equip the home to handle them. For example, adding handrails and grab bars throughout the home to address mobility issues and increase balance, putting a shower bench into the bathroom, replacing the shower head with a handheld version, and considering a toilet chair for the bedroom at night.
• Provide for communication. While having you and a home care provider in the home with your parent is preferable to them being alone during their recovery, if your parent is alone at any point, you want to make sure they have the ability to communicate with someone who can help if they need it. If they fall or experience another problem, they need to be able to reach out for help as quickly and effectively as possible. Installing emergency response systems or having your parent wear a pendant is an important step in giving them this source of communication.