Having a senior in your life staying at a hospital is often a stressful time. However, you must take some time to get ready for the next phase which is care within the home. If an elderly loved one is not in any type of caring facility, you could be the caregiver once they have to go home. Following a few simple steps will ensure a senior has a welcome place to come home to after recovering from surgery. In this post, you will learn four important tips for caring for a senior after surgery.
Actively Monitor Pain Levels: Depending upon the procedure, a person could feel pain for the upcoming days or weeks. In many cases, a hospital or doctor will prescribe special pain medications for pain management after a surgery. It is best that you are able to control when the pain medication will be given out. Patients who medicate themselves could give out the wrong amount, due to the side effects of many pain medications. Taking too much pain medication can lead to many side effects, including death. Keeping a schedule nearby is helpful should you forget the last time medication was handed out.
Keep Important Items within Arm’s Reach: A senior should always stay in bed when recovering from surgery. Of course, there will be times that this person needs to get up. However, you will learn how to handle these situations in a moment. If a patient requires a feeding apparatus, ensure feeding bags for patients are nearby for you. Items like Kangaroo gravity feeding bags are used to help with a feeding process. Prepare the recovery area for your senior by placing important items nearby on a bedside table. Important items including remotes, cell phones, and other handheld devices should be within arm’s reach. A great idea is to ask the senior in your life about any books or movies they prefer. Having a bedside table set up with a few books shows the senior in your life you care.
Clean with Care for Wounds: An important time in the recovery process is ensuring wounds stay clean. Depending on intensive a surgery was, a senior may require bathing assistance. The key to helping a senior clean their wounds after surgery is to take it slow. If you begin bathing with a heavy water stream, bandages and wound treatments could be quickly washed off. It is wise to ask the medical staff about bathing procedures after a senior’s surgery. Certain procedures may call for bathing to be done at a later time. As long as you don’t rush bathing procedures, everything should be fine. Sterile rolled cotton is great for packing wounds, should the need arise.
Plan Ahead with Extra Supplies: Nothing is worse than running out of essential post surgery supplies. In situations where a senior requires a feeding tube, running out of bags is a terrible situation to be in. Kangaroo feeding bags are often used because of how well the Kangaroo feeding system is regarded. In addition, Kangaroo gravity feeding bags are lightweight and made to connect easily. It is wise to visit a medical supply store before your senior comes home to recover. A staff at a supply store will know what supplies are best to have you ready to help a senior recover. Kangaroo gravity feeding bags are popular because of how easy they are to set up.
In closing, there are important tips to follow to have a senior ready to recover properly. Keeping pain in check will ensure that senior recovers peacefully. Ensuring a senior has what they need nearby ensures they aren’t getting up, risking a dangerous fall. Cleaning is often a scary thought for someone who doesn’t feel prepared. However, if you clean slowly and carefully, a senior should be in no danger. Planning ahead by stocking up on recovery supplies ensures there are no stressful shortages. For example, kangaroo gravity feeding bags work well for those who need feeding assistance. Follow the previously mentioned tips and you will help a senior citizen recover safely and securely.
