How to Prepare your Home for Recovery After Surgery

Key considerations and practical tips, from Dr Rob Hicks

The knowledge that you’re due to have surgery can be stressful. But preparing for coming home afterwards can be immensely cathartic. A calm, orderly and well-stocked house to return to after an operation should allow for a smoother recuperation. Talk to your healthcare team about what you might need. Ask friends and family for advice. Take control. Make a list. And do what you can beforehand to prepare your home for your recovery after surgery.

Here are my top tips for preparing your home for recovery after surgery:

1. Prepare a bed on the ground floor

It can be sensible to live on one floor when you initially come home after surgery. Set up a bed so you can access a bathroom and kitchen. A sofa bed might be a good idea if you’re going to be sleeping in the living room.

2. Plan your food ahead

The nature of your surgery may dictate your options when it comes to food and drink and your ability to prepare it – your healthcare team can advise on this.

Whatever the operation, you’ll need some healthy food to come back to, in order to facilitate recovery after surgery. If it may be difficult to eat, think about making some soups, and whether fruit smoothies could be an option.

Ideally, pre-cook and freeze meals made from healthy ingredients that incorporate plenty of fresh fruit and vegetables.

Perhaps think about having frozen ready meals available, which are often of good quality nowadays. Book up a couple of food delivery slots in advance. Organise family members and friends to drop meals round. Your council and other local organisations may even provide meals delivered to your home if you are eligible.

3. Sort out your finances

You don’t want to have to worry about finances when you’re recovering from surgery at home, so ensure all your ducks are in a row before your trip to hospital. Draw up a list of bills (gas, electric, water, TV, phone, car tax, etc) and if you don’t have direct debits set up perhaps make contact with your suppliers to discuss the situation.

4. Get the necessary equipment

Will specialist equipment assist your recovery from surgery at home, whether on a short-term or long-term basis?

Grab rails can be useful to have around the house. Ramps can help you get inside and outside. A rollator may be handy for walking. Perhaps special cutlery and cups would be a sensible idea? Some people may need a commode or incontinence pads for a period of time. There’s no point in being shy about these things – best to work out what you may need beforehand to help keep stress to a minimum after surgery. Arrange it now, and then you’ll have less to worry about later on.

Occupational therapists can advise on many of these items, and funding for home adaptations is often available. Speak to your GP or find more information on the NHS website.

5. Consider specialist furniture

Specialist furniture can be extremely useful with regards recovery after surgery.

Electric beds are designed to move at the touch of a button to a position that is ideal comfort-wise for sleeping, resting, reading and watching TV. The bed’s positions can be adjusted throughout the day and night – helpful for the person recovering from surgery and anyone looking after them. These beds can be made to measure, so you can choose the height, length and width according to your precise needs – they even come as doubles so you can continue to share. Check out this helpful guide on how to choose an adjustable bed for more details.

Homecare beds offer an extra degree of functionality for people who need a little more care while they recover after surgery. For example, whilst they still look like a bed you’d like in your bedroom, homecare beds are designed to be simpler to get into and out of, and come in upholstery that is easier to clean.

Similarly, rise and recline chairs are designed to make the action of sitting down easier. Users press a button to recline backwards to a comfortable angle, and the legs can then be elevated. As for standing up, rise and recline chairs can help you do that too.

Experts highlight that planning is one of the main strategies for reducing stress. Face the problem, clarify your concerns, and create a plan of action. And remember that you aren’t alone when you’re preparing your home for recovery after surgery. Plenty of information, advice and help is out there to access. So don’t be afraid to ask!

Further information

For more information about rise and recline chairs, adjustable beds and homecare beds download the brochure from The Mobility Furniture Company or Tel 0808 2651372 for further information.