Getting help after surgery is absolutely essential. Getting the right help will impact on your comfort levels, your ability to sleep, to travel, to your independence and to your overall recovery.
How long you will need it for, and what sort of help you will need, will depend on factors like the type of surgery you've had, your age and the medication you are on.
But one thing is certain you will need some help after the operation.
Many of us like to be independent but there are times in our lives when that simply is possible. It's better to get a bit of help now then end up back in hospital following a totally unnecessary fall.
It is absolutely essential to get this organised before you go into hospital.
This list covers the main points you will need help after surgery with. It won't cover everybody's needs but will give you ideas to think about and prepare for.
In 2005 I broke my leg very badly and got free council provided care at home twice a day. After my hip surgery I was told that same care would be means tested and I might have to pay £13.25 per hour as I wasn't classified as undergoing rehabilitation. I have no idea what they thought I was doing if not rehabilitating. I could have challenged the ruling but decided not to 1)because I was just too tired after the operation, 2) because I simply didn't want to have to deal with all the paperwork involved in means testing, 3) because the service I'd received in 2005 had been dreadful and 4) because I knew, if I needed to, I could get a cheaper service elsewhere. And if things were bad then (2009) they'll be a lot worse now as local councils try to slash their " help after surgery " services.
However not all councils are the same and yours might be a lot better than mine.
One question you must ask is how much say you will have over the type of work the helper will do. I was told that I'd have none. The council would decide when and for how long she'd do the shopping, prepare the food, help with washing etc and that she (and they normally are women) wouldn't do any cleaning. No cleaning! So I'd have to find someone else to help with that as well. It all sounded way too complicated. I'd be paying £13.25 for a service I had no control over and I'd have to find someone myself to do the cleaning - I don't think so.
One of the most enjoyable parts of my recovery was having visits from family and friends. Before I went into hospital I called around everyone I knew within a reasonable distance and asked if they'd help out. All agreed readily.
As I live on my own on the 2nd story of a terraced house I knew that letting people in and out would be difficult. I wasn't going to want to negotiate the stairs and I couldn't really have so many sets of keys cut. So I got a long piece of string and tied it to a small bag and put the keys into that. As soon as the bell rang I'd be lowering the keys down to my visitor. Although I'm sure the delivery people (post, groceries etc) would also have been willing I tried to make sure there was someone around to let them in.
In any week I might have 5 different people visiting - it was great. Each one would cook a meal for us both and an extra portion for me to freeze. Later as I got stronger I really enjoyed returning the favour and cooking for my visitors. My progress could be marked as the meals I provided moved on from mushrooms and beans on toast to a full on three course meal.
When I finally felt fit enough we all had a party to celebrate and for me to thank them
Related Links:
Anesthetics
Preparing for Recovery
The Day of Surgery
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