Have you ever thought about the most common surgeries in older women in the United States? If your mom has to undergo one of these surgeries, how prepared is your family to help her during the recovery? No matter which surgery she needs, living alone can make the recovery period challenging.

After any surgery, typical care instructions are to keep the incision clean and dry, replacing the bandages as needed. Avoiding strenuous activity and not lifting anything heavier than five pounds is also common. This is all hard to manage when you live alone, but home health care services provide the help your mom needs for her recovery from any of these top surgeries.

Cataract Removal

Around 3.7 million people are diagnosed with cataracts each year that require surgery. It’s generally an easy surgery that doesn’t require general anesthesia. Your mom is often ready to go home within a couple of hours.

For her post-surgery care, she’ll wear an eye patch for a day or two. She’s going to have topical antibiotics and anti-inflammatory medications that must be administered properly. A home health care nurse can help with that if your mom’s too shaky to apply medications to her eyes on her own.

Heart Surgery

If your mom’s arteries in her heart become clogged with plaque, a surgical procedure that removes the plaque and restores full blood flow by placing a stent is necessary. These procedures usually require an overnight stay in the hospital.

Once your mom returns home, she may need to take it easy for a few weeks. She’s going to have medications to take, which is something a nurse can help her with. Your mom also needs to work on her diet, and a nutritionist can help her learn how to plan a heart-healthy menu and make better choices when shopping.

If she has to have heart bypass surgery, the recovery time for that is greater. It’s important to have a nurse with her to check her vitals. Her pain management needs may be greater for a longer period. She’s also going to need help with incision care, physical therapy, and diet.

Joint Replacement Surgery

Joint replacement surgeries are also very common in older women. Hip replacement is one of the prevalent surgeries, but it could also be a knee, ankle, or shoulder joint.

Your mom may stay in the hospital for a couple of days. After that, she will go home and needs to take it easy, but she also needs to carefully exercise the joint. Working with a physical therapist is often recommended.

She’s also going to experience some pain. If she’s given prescription pain medications, they need to be carefully managed. Otherwise, she needs to time doses of ibuprofen and acetaminophen. Nurses can help her with medication administration. They can also help with incision care.

Home health care services are an important part of the recovery plan. Your mom may not be able to care for herself as well as she needs to. A home health care nurse helps with incision care, diet, physical therapy, nutrition, and health assessments. Ask your mom’s surgeon about your mom’s recovery plan to determine how nurses can help.

Sources:
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC7812090/

If you or an aging loved one is considering home health care in Potomac, MD, please contact the caring staff at Care At Home today. 301-970-9706

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Ann Smith RN

Owner at Care at Home

Ann Smith, RN, Realtor® Your local Home care and Home transition expert Ann is a Registered Nurse and a Realtor with a passion and dedication to serving her community. She has over twenty years of nursing experience in pediatric, geriatric, home health care, and care management. She founded Care at Home, a home care company, to provide seniors with services that promote independence and safe aging in place. Ann is dedicated to helping seniors achieve stress-free retirement living by providing comprehensive services from health to home. Ann's mother instilled in her the value of hard work, dedication, and service to others at a young age, which is now a driving force in her home care agency. Her caring and compassionate work with seniors began when she was just 17 years old. She was offered a job as a caregiver. Just as quickly, she instinctively knew that this would be her life's work. She soon became a nurse and has since helped many older adults transition seamlessly into a new phase of life. While helping seniors and individuals with their home care needs, it became apparent that part of the transition process often involved selling their current home for more suitable living arrangements. That's when Ann decided to add real estate services to alleviate stress and enhance her client's experience. It's also how she became known as the Home Transition Agent. Today, Ann helps her mature clients achieve stress-free retirement living by providing in-home care and comprehensive services from health to home. Ann's love for children and dedication to helping families caring for children with chronic health conditions inspired Pediatric Care at Home, a division of Care at Home that provides pediatric nursing care. Ann and her team are dedicated to providing compassionate care to all, from infants to older adults. When Ann isn't busy helping her patients and clients, she volunteers her time at women's shelters and fostering dogs. She and her veteran husband enjoy a simple life in the countryside, where farm animals and country life surround them. Ann also enjoys reading, photography, gardening, and nature walk with their dogs.

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