Whether it’s only day surgery or your recovery begins with a hospital stay, post-surgery recovery continues well beyond your departure from the hospital. Homecare services can be of great help to individuals during the recovery period, regardless of their age or procedure.
Here are 6 ways that a home caregiver can help you on your road to recovery from surgery in Toronto.
1 - Escort You Home
If your procedure involves anesthesia or sedatives, you won’t be allowed to drive yourself home or leave the clinic alone. If friends or family can’t be there, a caregiver can be the one to escort you home safely from the clinic.
2 - Let You Stay Off Your Feet
Whether it’s grabbing the TV remote from the other side of the room or taking care of the laundry, having a home caregiver with you ensures you can stay off your feet and get the rest you need during your post-surgery recovery.
Through tasks such as light housekeeping, meal preparation and personal assistance, a home caregiver will make sure that both you and your household are well taken care of until you can resume these tasks.
3 - Give Medication Reminders
You may have medications to take following your surgery, and they may come with different schedules and instructions that can be difficult to keep track of. A caregiver can remind you what time to take your medications and instructions such as taking it with food.
Taking your medications on-time and as prescribed is crucial to a healthy recovery from surgery, and a home caregiver can help ensure this happens as it should.
4 - Assistance With Dressing and Bathing
Assistance in the bathroom or getting dressed can be difficult to accept, but you may have no choice following your surgery. You may have an incision to be aware of, restrictions on your movement or not yet be strong enough to dress or bathe independently.
A home caregiver can support you with dressing and bathing until you can once again do these tasks by yourself.
5 - Companionship
This may not be at the top of your priority list after your surgery, but if you’re going to be stuck at home for some time and unable to do some or all of your regular activities, you may find yourself self in need of some company to help pass the time. A caregiver gives you someone to talk to or enjoy a quiet activity with.
6 - Supplement and Support Family Members
You may be thinking ‘I don’t need to hire someone to take care of me, my family can handle it!’. This is true for many individuals and families during surgery recovery, but not for all.
Make sure to discuss your post-surgical needs with both your medical team and your family to make sure nothing is overlooked and that your family can actually offer the support you will need during your recovery. Even with the best of intentions, your family members may be limited in what they can offer due to work, caring for children or living too far away.