The technology has advanced so much that these days total hip replacement is a common procedure that many older people undergo to resolve severe hip joint pain due to arthritis or some injury. The hip
The technology has advanced so much that these days total hip replacement is a common procedure that many older people undergo to resolve severe hip joint pain due to arthritis or some injury.
The hip replacement surgery is usually low risk and enables a better quality of life post the recovery. However, to ensure the success of this procedure, the best hip replacement surgeons in India advise lessening the risk factors that might lead to any complications resulting in a readmission.
In the case of elderly patients, one has to be particularly careful after hip replacement surgery as there could be surgical complications, they have to maintain bone health, manage pain, and avoid any falls. Hence, it is very important to follow the surgeon’s recommendations, plan for exercise, and regular physical therapy. It’s also important to make some amendments in your home and follow some tips that would enable the elderly patients to be comfortable in their recovery phase.
Eliminate Tripping Hazards
One of the most common reasons for hip replacement surgery is an injury or fracture due to a bad fall. To avoid getting admitted to the hospital due to an injury, you must ensure to remove all carpets, rugs, or any loose wires from your home to eliminate anything that could cause the elderly patient to trip and get injured again.
Renovate the Bathroom
After an elderly person has had a hip replacement surgery, it is essential to install a hand rail and comfort height toilet. You should also ensure that the patient uses a shower chair, which is sturdy and higher than the average chair, as it would help the person to easily get in and out of it. You must also consider installing a grab bar in the bathroom to help the patient.
Maintain Good Bone Health
If some elderly loved one in your family has had a hip replacement surgery, then they could be more prone to falling and injury. There could be various reasons for this – like impaired vision, weak bones and joints, frail health, ongoing medications,and environmental hazards. However,if one takes calcium and vitamin D supplements as recommended by their doctor, then it reduces the risk of hip fractures and other bone injuries by almost 50 percent. Therefore, taking a healthy diet that is rich in calcium and vitamin D and appropriate strengthening exercises could help the elderly in maintaining good bone health.
Attend Physical Therapy
After hip replacement surgery, the patient needs to attend regular physical therapy to recover the lost strength and mobility. Your physical therapist would help you to restore your strength and independence gradually by performing the prescribed exercises at home or maybe in a rehab center.
Take help from a Caregiver
During the recovery process, getting a trained caregiver is a great idea to assist you or the elderly patient. The best hip replacement surgeons in India recommend hiring a caregiver who can help the patient in moving around to different rooms, in standing, sitting, and lying down. Hiring a trained caregiver is a good option to ensure that the patient can attend follow-up appointments with the doctor, surgeon or with the physical therapist and also assist and keep a track of the home exercise program (HEP).
A compassionate caregiver also plays an important role in the recovery process by helping in providing medication reminders and communicating any alarms or concerns to the doctor or the healthcare team. Besides offering encouragement and emotional support, a professional caregiver can help in relieving the stress in the home by helping other family members and enabling the patient to stay focused on the main goal of recovery while ensuring a positive outcome of the hip replacement surgery.