ELDERLY CARE IN MAPLE GROVE MN
Total knee replacement surgery is a fairly common surgery among elderly adults. More than 600,000 of these surgeries are performed each year, with the majority being performed on older adults. This type of surgery can make a tremendous positive impact on your parent’s quality of life. Through a knee replacement, your parent can experience relief from pain and stiffness associated with arthritis, wear and tear, or an injury. This can allow them to experience greater range of motion and flexibility, better mobility, and the ability to handle greater activity. This will let your parent enjoy a more active, engaged lifestyle that will keep them physically, mentally, and emotionally healthier.
If your parent is having knee replacement surgery soon, the preparations that you make now can help them to handle their surgery and recovery period better so that they can get back to their active, healthy life faster. This can make both of you feel more confident going into the experience.
Some of the things that you can do to help prepare your parent for knee replacement surgery include:
- Arrange for help after surgery. Your aging loved one will likely spend a few days recuperating in the hospital after the surgery, and then will return home. Full recovery, however, can take several weeks to a few months. During this time your parent will experience pain, limited range of motion, and possible side effects of the medications that the doctor prescribes. An elderly care provider can be with your parent to provide the hands-on, personalized care that they will need to help them handle their daily needs without overexerting themselves. As they progress through their recovery, the care provider can also encourage them to get active in the healthy, controlled way that the doctor recommends.
- Prepare a recovery space. If your parent’s bedroom is upstairs, they will not be able to access it easily and comfortably. If possible, prepare a recovery space downstairs for them. This will enable them to increase their mobility gradually as their recovery permits without the concerns that being upstairs can create. This space should include a comfortable space to rest, easy access to food and water, and mobility aids to help with tasks such as getting to the restroom.
- Prepare meals ahead of time. Eating satisfying, comforting, and nutritious meals can make a major difference in your parent’s recovery period. In the days and weeks leading up to the surgery, prepare and freeze meals for your parent. These meals are not just to give them something to enjoy and ensure that their body has the nutrients it needs to heal and get stronger. Having meals readily available that are fast and easy to prepare takes pressure off of your parent and reduces the activity that they need to do during their early recovery. Be sure to include instructions on how to properly heat the meals.
- Know the risks. While it can seem pessimistic to look into everything that could go wrong with your loved one during their surgery, knowing the possible risks is important. This will allow you to make decisions about the care that you arrange for them as well as give you and your parent confidence that you will know what to look for in case there is a problem, and be able to respond effectively.
http://www.healthline.com/health/total-knee-replacement-surgery/risks-complications
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/10546597
If you or an aging loved one are considering elderly care in Maple Grove, MN, and the surrounding areas, please contact the friendly staff at CareBuilders at Home Minnesota. Call today 612-260-2273.
