Before you go to the hospital for surgery, set up your home to make your recovery and life easier when you come back. Ask your doctor, nurse, or physical therapist about getting your home ready.

Make It Easy for Yourself Before Surgery

Make sure everything you need is easy to get to and on the same floor where you will spend most of your time. If you will need to use the stairs, you should limit using them to once a day.

• Have a bed that is low enough so that your feet touch the floor when you sit on the edge of the bed.
• Set up your bed on the first floor if you can. You may not need a hospital bed, but your mattress should be firm.
• Have a bathroom or a portable commode on the same floor where you will spend most of your day.
• Stock up on canned or frozen food, toilet paper, shampoo, and other personal items.
• Either buy or make single meals that can be frozen and reheated.
• Make sure you can reach everything you need without getting on your tiptoes or bending down low.
• Put food and other supplies in a cupboard that is between your waist and shoulder level.
• Place glasses, your teapot, and other items you use a lot on the kitchen bench.
• Make sure you can get to your phone. A portable phone can be helpful.
• Place a chair with a firm back in the kitchen, bedroom, bathroom, and other rooms you will use. This way, you can sit when you do your daily tasks.
• If you will be using a wheeled walker, attach a sturdy bag or a small basket to it to hold your phone, a notepad, a pen, and another other things you will need to have close by.
• When you first leave the hospital, you will need the help of others to perform basic activities like bathing, dressing and managing household chores like cooking and cleaning.
• Arrange for a family member or friend to be available to stay with you for the first week or two.
• If you do not have someone to help you at home for the first 1 or 2 weeks after surgery, discuss with your health care provider about the options of going to a specialised rehabilitation facility after discharge from the hospital or perhaps about having a trained caregiver come to your home to help you. Your hospital should have a list of these facilities.

Look into assistive devices items that may help.  Your hospital should have lists of what is needed and advise on local sources of these devices.  Devices could include:

• A shower sponge with a long handle
• A shoehorn with a long handle
• A walking stick, crutches, or a wheeled walker
• A reacher to help you pick up things from the floor, put on your pants, and take off your socks
• A sock aid to help you put on your socks
• Handle bars in the bathroom to allow you to steady yourself

Bathroom Setup

Raising the toilet seat height will keep you from flexing your knee too much. You can do this by adding a toilet seat raiser or an adjustable height over-toilet frame. You can also use a commode chair instead of a toilet.

You may need to have safety bars in your bathroom. DO NOT use towel racks as grab bars. They cannot support your weight.

You can make several changes to protect yourself when you take a bath or shower:

• Put non-slip suction mats or rubber silicone decals in the tub to prevent falls.
• Use a non-skid bath mat outside the tub for firm footing.
• Keep the floor outside the tub or shower dry.
• Place soap and shampoo where you do not need to stand up, reach, or twist.

Sit on a bath or shower chair when taking a shower:

• Make sure it has rubber tips on the bottom.

Avoiding Falls

Keep tripping hazards out of your home.

• Remove loose wires or cords from areas you walk through to get from one room to another.
• Remove loose throw rugs.
• Fix any uneven flooring in doorways. Use good lighting.
• Have night lights placed in hallways and rooms that can be dark.

Pets that are small or move around may cause you to trip. For the first few weeks you are home, consider having your pet stay elsewhere (with a friend, in a kennel, or in the yard).

DO NOT carry anything when you are walking around. You may need your hands to help you balance.

Access is not a professional authority on hip or knee surgery needs. To ensure a safe recovery Access advises clients speak directly with their health professionals.Information sourced from Medline Plus website.