Remember
that your mobility will be limited in the days and weeks following your surgery,
so prepare your home in advance. Besides making sure that frequently used items
are within easy reach, it's a good idea to consider taking these actions:
Reduce Accident Risks
Take some time beforehand to transform your home into the best possible recuperative
environment, eliminating potential hazards and obstacles to recovery. Here
are a few simple ideas::
Rearrange furniture: Make it as easy and safe as possible to move around your home during your recovery by rearranging your furniture to create wide traffic paths and to remove obstacles.
Reva's corner:
It's a good idea to get someone to keep your pets for the first week or
two when you return home from the hospital - especially those that are
small and can cause you to trip and hurt your knee.
Remove electrical cords: To avoid tripping over them,
remove them, hide them or tape them to the floor.
Pack up the throw rugs: Rugs can shift or bunch, causing
you to slip or trip. Don't take chances - remove all of them before your
surgery.
Watch the floor: After your surgery, always keep an
eye on the floor to avoid tripping over pets or small objects.
Prepare a bed downstairs: If your bedroom is upstairs or
in the basement, prepare a bed on the ground floor of your home to use temporarily
upon your return from the hospital.
Get help with household chores: For the first few weeks
following your surgery, you'll need some help with typical household chores
like cooking, cleaning, shopping, bathing and doing laundry. If you don't
have a spouse, relative or friend who can help with these essential tasks,
your healthcare team can assist you in making arrangements in advance for
someone to help you around the home. You can also arrange a short stay at
an extended care rehab facility while you recover.
Remember
that your mobility will be limited in the days and weeks following your surgery,
so prepare your home in advance. Besides making sure that frequently used items
are within easy reach, it's a good idea to consider taking these actions: 