Caring After Hip, Knee, or Joint Replacement Surgery
Problems with hips and knees often occur naturally as we age, but they can also be caused by other conditions such as arthritis and joint injuries. Common symptoms include chronic pain and loss of confidence with everyday activities, which may affect your feelings of independence and control. Your healthcare provider may recommend replacement surgery to improve your quality of life, especially when pain management isn’t helping.
While adults at any age can be considered for joint replacements, the majority are conducted on people aged 60 to 80. Artificial joints typically need replacing after 10 years, so it’s essential that you know the care options available for you or a loved one after each operation.
Today, we’ll explore what you need to know after a hip, knee or joint replacement surgery, including care options, what to expect and how Country Cousins can help support a smooth, efficient recovery process.
What to Expect After Joint Replacement Surgery
Most patients who’ve had a hip or knee replacement will need to spend a period of time in hospital to recover in the presence of healthcare professionals with continuous monitoring. In-hospital postoperative aftercare typically lasts between two and five days for knee replacements and one to two weeks for hip replacements.
Once you’re discharged from the hospital, you’ll be given a comprehensive joint replacement aftercare recovery plan by your professional care team, including exercises to complete at home and medications. This will support your rehabilitation and make sure your recovery remains as smooth as possible.
The first 24 hours after coming home from surgery are often the toughest, when you’ll most likely experience symptoms like swelling, stiffness, and pain. This can take several weeks to settle and make it difficult to move around and mobilise, but it should improve slightly each day.
Having a reliable support system is incredibly important in the initial stages of recovery, to make sure you can move around safely without the risk of falling and hospital readmission. Fall risks are more common during recovery from knee and hip replacement, so many find mobility assistance crucial for maintaining independence and dignity.
Preparing Your Home for Knee and Hip Surgery Recovery
Caring for someone after joint surgery begins at home, and a proactive approach is highly beneficial. Preparing the home beforehand ensures they can return to a safer environment to aid recovery.
Here are some tips on preparing the home before your surgery:
- Remove trip hazards: Create clear pathways through the home, paying attention to loose carpets, rugs, wires and low furniture.
- Keep things easily accessible: Place your frequently used items in locations where you can access them quickly, such as toiletries, books and remote controls.
- Install bathroom aids: Assistive aids, such as grab bars around the toilet and a shower seat, make it easier to use the bathroom independently.
- Choose comfortable clothing: Ensure you have clothing that’s easy to put on and take off, clean and in an easily accessible place.
- Check your chair: Joint replacement patients often require a chair that is high enough and firm enough to keep their knees aligned with their hips while sitting.
Care Options for Hip, Knee and Joint Replacement
There are plenty of care options available to joint replacement patients, depending on your requirements, preferences and goals:
- Live-in care
One-to-one care provided by a dedicated Country Cousins compassionate carer, fully trained and experienced in postoperative care. Your carer will temporarily move into your home to provide round-the-clock assistance with household chores, mobility and companionship. Live-in care can continue for as long as you choose, so you can recover and regain confidence at your own pace.
- Family carers
If you have loved ones living nearby, they may be able to provide assistance throughout the day. Depending on their other commitments and schedule, they may be able to visit and provide support with cooking, housework and emotional support. However, some people prefer not to ask their loved ones for personal care and mobility assistance.
- Respite care
Country Cousins respite carers can provide assistance with your joint replacement aftercare program, all from the comfort of home. This period of respite may be the only care you require before returning to your normal routine, especially if you have no one to take care of you after surgery. Family carers also often require breaks, and we offer flexible respite services ranging from a few weeks to several months.
- Residential rehab
Residential care after surgery is offered in a care home that caters to multiple clients with various needs and requirements. A team of professional carers will support you, so there’s always someone on hand day and night. However, you’ll need to temporarily move into another home to receive this type of care, which can be stressful.
Benefits of Live-In Care After Knee or Hip Replacement
At Country Cousins, our live-in service matches clients with compassionate, fully trained carers to ensure they are able to remain living at home with as much support as required throughout their recovery period. We provide a better quality of life to those receiving care, constantly prioritising independence and dignity.
There are several excellent benefits to receiving premium live-in care from an agency like Country Cousins, including:
Reduced Fall Risk and Mobility Assistance
Our live-in care service following joint replacement surgery focuses highly on mobility assistance, steadying and helping you regain confidence. Mobility will likely be compromised for weeks or even months, and walking without support can increase the risk of falling. A live-in carer will offer assistance moving from room to room, getting in and out of bed, and reaching things without compromising balance.
A sudden change in mobility not only impacts physical health but also mental well-being. Our carers recognise how a lack of independence can affect clients, adopting a compassionate approach to counter this. We’ll support and encourage you to continue your post-operative exercises and rehabilitation routine, helping you get back on your feet more quickly.
Support with Daily Living Activities to Allow You Time to Rest
Postoperative care provides support with daily living activities such as cooking, light housework, pet care, assistance with personal hygiene and dressing. At Country Cousins, we understand the importance of rest and relaxation during recovery times. Pushing yourself too hard after joint replacement surgery can set your recovery back, increasing pain and reducing independence.
From cooking meals with post-op nutrition in mind to keeping on top of household chores, our professional carers look after your home as their own to allow you to focus all of your time and energy on your recovery.
Support During Follow-Up Appointments
Follow-up appointments with your surgical team can be overwhelming and intimidating, especially if you’re nervous about what will be said. Should you need assistance and support, our Country Cousins carers are happy to accompany you to your follow-up appointments. We’ll make notes to share with loved ones and ask relevant questions depending on how involved you want us to be.
You may prefer not to have us present during your appointments, in which case we’ll transport you to and from the hospital safely, remaining in the waiting room while you’re seen.
Round-the-Clock Care and Monitoring
One of the main advantages of live-in care is that you can benefit from 24/7 care and support. Rather than having to wait for your pre-planned visits from domiciliary carers, a live-in carer is on hand whenever you need us. No matter whether you need help with cooking meals during the day or walking safely to the bathroom at night, your carer will be on hand to assist you.
Our carers will also monitor your condition and symptoms to ensure recovery remains on track, seeking emergency assistance should you require it. 24/7 professional home care helps clients feel more confident and comfortable throughout their postoperative recovery.
Improved Confidence for Clients and Families
Joint replacement surgery can knock your confidence and make you nervous to live independently. This is especially true if a mobility-related injury was the cause of your surgical requirement. This can make some people nervous about starting to walk on their own again, significantly impacting their independence and quality of life.
Live-in care means your carer’s attention is solely on you, providing you with unhurried services that promote independence. We always take the time to encourage doing things for yourself instead of stepping in and taking over, as this can promote a dependent bond. Over time, with gentle encouragement and consistency, you’ll notice your confidence returning as you resume your normal life.
Continuous Companionship and Emotional Support
Our live-in carers are around 24/7 to provide emotional support whenever you need it. Knee and hip replacement surgery makes it more difficult to get outside to meet friends and family, leaving some people feeling isolated. To counter this, Country Cousins carers aim to help you stick to your usual social routine through transportation and mobility assistance.
You may not feel up to leaving the house much at the start of your recovery. A single live-in carer promotes the formation of a stronger bond between client and carer, as opposed to several key workers rotating shifts. Your carer can provide companionship and a listening ear whenever you have concerns or qualms about recovery.
Talk to Our Team Today
As the UK’s longest-serving introductory live-in care agency, we have been providing compassionate live-in care to those who need it since 1959 – all from the comfort of their own homes.
Give us a call today on 01293 224 706. Our experienced team is on hand to help from Monday to Friday, 8 am to 6 pm. Alternatively, contact us through our online enquiry form.
Link to ‘What to Expect in the First 24 Hours After Coming Home from Surgery’ once live on the website.
