In the past 40 years, the rates of outpatient surgeries for the elderly have increased by 300%. Even if your dad has to stay in the hospital following his surgery, it’s unlikely he’ll be there for more than a day or two. Much of his recovery takes place at home.
It’s important that your dad’s care needs are covered when he is at home. Home health care services ensure your dad has the support he needs to heal properly and not end up in the hospital again.
Some of the most common surgeries for the elderly include heart surgeries, knee and hip replacements, and rotator cuff surgeries. Here are some of the ways a home health care nurse helps.
Wound Care
Home Health Care Manhasset, NY: Home Health and Surgery
Following his surgery, your dad’s incision has to be carefully cared for. It has to be kept dry, clean, and covered. Depending on the location of the incision, your dad may have a hard time with incision care. If you’re not trained, you may not be comfortable helping him. A nurse can check for infection, clean the incision, and apply a new bandage.
Medication Administration
Your dad’s pain may be best managed with IV medications. If he had an abscess opened and drained, he may need IV antibiotics for several days. A home health care nurse is able to administer the medications he needs so that he’s free of pain or infection as he recovers.
Health Assessments
Another area nurses can help is by checking your dad’s vitals each day. His nurse will take his blood pressure, oxygen saturation levels, pulse, and respiration. After consulting with his surgeon and general practitioner, the nurse will make any changes the doctors request, whether it’s changing his medications or giving him IV fluids.
Physical Therapy
Your dad needs to work with a physical therapist following his surgery. Instead of bringing him to a therapist’s office several times each week, arrange home health care therapy services. Your dad can have a physical therapist come to his home and work on his exercises with him there.
Keep Him Comfortable
Ask his surgical team if he needs to restrict any activities. He may be told to avoid stairs for several days. Lifting items over five pounds is another common restriction following surgery.
If he can’t climb stairs or lift items, make sure everything he needs is on one level. Set him up on a temporary bed or recliner near a bathroom. Have a TV tray where his drinks and snacks are located. Have plenty of reading materials and his remotes nearby.
Get your dad’s main living area and home health care aides arranged before his surgery. If he can come home and focus on healing, it’s less stressful for everyone. Call to get started.
If you or an aging loved-one is considering Home Health Care in Manhasset, NY please contact the caring staff at Brookville Homecare today. 516-802-7722
Sources:
https://www.cureus.com/articles/80608-geriatric-patients-undergoing-outpatient-surgery-in-the-united-states-a-retrospective-cohort-analysis-on-the-rates-of-hospital-admission-and-complications