Published on March 24th, 2017 | by Guest

How to Take Care of a Geriatric Person At Home after Surgery

It is quite usual for the elderly to undergo surgeries for addressing various ailments such as hip replacements, gall stone removal, cardiac bypass etc. If you have advance knowledge of the surgery it may be of great help as then you can start preparing how to take the best care of the patient once he is discharged after the surgical procedure.

However, in the case of an emergency or if you are already taking care of a senior after surgery, it will benefit you to keep a few essential points in mind:

Be Extremely Patient

It can be very difficult for the patient in the first few days after the surgical procedure. Usually, the patient will be feeling exhausted, suffering from severe pain and frustrated due to the inability to do things independently. You need to exercise a lot of restraint and not become irritated yourself with his inability to cope with everyday chores and instead be ready to help out with basic tasks like bathing, preparing meals and eating, going to the bathroom, grooming, and even going to bed.

Take Care of Medication and Wound Dressing

Whenever a patient is discharged following surgery the doctor will give detailed instructions on the medications to be taken and how the surgical wounds are to be cleaned and dressed. Since the patient himself will not be in a position to take care of these things, you will need to monitor the prescription and ensure that the medicines are being taken in the correct dose and on time. The surgical wounds need to be periodically inspected for signs of infection and the dressings must be changed. Call for professional medical assistance if you notice something unusual.

Establish a Support-Independence-Balance at Home Post-Surgery

After a major surgery, it can take a very long time for the patient to recover. The recovery time can prove to be very difficult and it can help the senior considerably just by having someone by his side at all times. You need to spend time with him and extend a helping hand whenever needed just like the care available at Assisting Hands facilities. Even the patient may be surprised to discover his inability to do certain activities that he had been accustomed to performing before the surgery like household chores, cooking, and eating, getting out of bed and taking a bath, completing paperwork or even getting out of the house. While initially, you should help out fully, you must also encourage him to become independent over a period of time to give his confidence a boost.

Extend Assistance with Follow-Up Medical Appointments

The prescription issued by the doctor at the time of patient discharge will invariably mention the intervals at which the patient should present himself for a checkup. The senior will appreciate if you accompany him to such appointments because it can be very easy for him to become confused and misunderstand instruction and advice. Further, if you accompany him to the appointment, you can share with the doctor your observations of the patient’s progress and relieve yourself of any apprehensions and doubts.

Conclusion

Taking good care of senior patients who have undergone surgery is not an easy job. It requires a lot of patience and understanding. While patients make the best recovery when taken care of by their near and dear ones in a supportive environment, the task can be really tiring when it is required to be done day after day without break. When required, it may help to engage professionals so that you can relax and take care of yourself.

Author bio:

Mary Benelli is a senior consultant at one of the numerous Assisting Hands facilities in Houston. A senior resource, Mary also works with a number of governmental agencies to devise policies designed to provide better living standards for senior citizens.

Tags: care, geriatric, home, person, surgery, take