After surgery or a hospital stay, who will help with recovery at home?
There are many important things to consider as part of pre-operation planning, such as making sure the kitchen will be stocked with healthy food and arranging to have someone available to help with meal preparation and basic housekeeping.
Will you need special medical equipment for your post-op recovery at home? Some recoveries require oxygen tanks, elevated toilets, shower seats, crutches or a walker to help prevent falls. In Whatcom County, the Bellingham Central Lions Club offers affordable rentals for wheelchairs, walkers, crutches and other durable medical equipment to help with recovery. Hoagland Pharmacy, Norco Medical and Bellevue Healthcare are also sources for medical supplies in the Bellingham area.
After surgery, dizziness may occur from being in bed for long periods or from lack of eating, which may cause balance issues and unexpected stumbling. Make sure your home is free from clutter, and if your bedroom is upstairs — stairs may be difficult — set up a comfortable place to sleep that is downstairs and close to a bathroom. Nightlights in hallways and bathrooms can also make it easier to move around at night and help prevent stumbling.
If you or your loved one needs someone there to help out — perhaps no family lives in the area, or loved ones who could help with caregiving have full-time jobs or are not comfortable with personal care tasks — our licensed caregivers at Take My Hand At-Home Care can assist Whatcom County residents as you return home and resume life after surgery and other hospital stays. Surgery can drain your energy for days or weeks, making simple tasks at home extra challenging. Our licensed caregiver companions can offer support while you’re healing and getting your strength back.
Your personal at-home caregiver can help with:
- Hospital discharge from PeaceHealth St. Joseph Medical Center in Bellingham, WA
- Transportation, purchasing healthcare supplies, picking up prescriptions, and helping you get settled in at home to recover
- Grocery shopping and keeping the fridge stocked; preparing and serving nutritious meals according to unique preferences and dietary needs
- Medication monitoring and reminders to help avoid accidentally taking too many or skipping a dose
- Personal hygiene, if assistance is needed with bathing, dressing, toileting, etc.
- Help with transitions from bed to chair or from sitting to standing, and assistance with walking to help prevent falls
- Accompaniment to doctor’s appointments and sharing health information with loved ones
- Light housekeeping such as laundry, dishes, changing sheets, and even feeding your pet
Our at-home caregivers are available to come by for a few hours daily, or we can provide 24-hour assistance if needed. Maybe a loved one is also there to help but would like to spend time focused on your well-being rather than running errands for supplies, preparing meals, and monitoring medications. That’s totally fine. Our trained and compassionate caregivers can provide support and comfort for both of you. To find out more about hiring your own at-home care provider, contact Take My Hand At-Home Care in Lynden.
