My mother is having knee surgery, she lives in a 2 story home, any ideas on what to make it easier on her?

Question

laundry room on lower level, and a cleaning lady once a week. Already set her up on delvery of groceries. A sister is comming home to help the first week, but I am about 30 minutes away with small children and can not be there every day.

Answer 1

Getting everything that's really necessary (like a bed) on the first floor is a good step.

Depending on the type of surgery, she may be on pain meds. An organizer with a notepad to record times of doses is a good idea. My own knee surgery left such pain I occasionally got messed up on when I'd taken meds. Subsequently, I took too many and got sick.

Having a portable phone is a good idea, too, if there's the possibility of a fall.

If it's knee-replacement surgery, she'll probably do much better than knee-repair surgery. An old fellow who had both knees replaced when I had ACL surgery was jogging on a treadmill before I could walk unassisted!

One of the less pleasant aspects of my own recovery was the tendency of the leg to jerk when I slept, causing me to awake with a sudden burst of intense, long-lasting pain. Pay attention if she talks about something like this; it can be very frightening if you don't have anyone around. (And it leads to sleep loss, because you're afraid to doze off!)

Periodic phone calls are nice, even if you can't be there. It's nice to know people are thinking about you. Don't feel guilty, just call and talk.

Answer 2

Have your mother move downstairs and have everything that she need moved downstairs.Hopefully there is a bathroom located downstairs.

She can also stay with your sister or you until she gets better.

You can also look into buying those chairs that attach onto the stairs and move up and down with the touch of a button.But those may cost too much and it seems like your mother may not need it for too long.But it still could be a good idea.

Answer 3

I know some parents don't like to "impose" on their children, but try to persuade Mama to live with your sister, if possible, until she gets better. If she has a friend she trusts, let that friend "watch" the house or house sit until things get better.
If this is agreeable to everyone, you've saved yourself money by not having to pay a cleaning lady and by not having to pay for groceries to be delivered.

Answer 4

Depends on the surgery, but, most likely she will need everything Downstairs and easy to access. May get one of the things to reach things in the cabinet. But, can place most used stuff on the Kitchen counter. Will need a Stool for the Bath Tub and possibly a hand sprayer to shower. Need a one of the Toilet Seats that sit higher and maybe keep by the bed.
I try to get you some pics.
http://www.medicalsupplygroup.com/BATH_SAFETY/INV96504/product.aspx
http://www.medicalsupplygroup.com/BATH_SAFETY/CEXB20400/product.aspx
http://www.medicalsupplygroup.com/BATH_SAFETY/INV98070/product.aspx
In time you mat need to all pitch in and get one of these, it depends;
http://www.medicalsupplygroup.com/LIFT_CHAIRS-GERI_CHAIRS/PR-505M/product.aspx
Madicare/Medicaid may pay for some of this stuff. The Hospital should have a person that can help you with this.
Sometimes the Hospital may give her some of the Bathroom Supplies and that tool to reach stuff in the cabinet, I can not think what it called.

Answer 5

Well my aunt lately had the sort of performed so i do know what to do! Your suppost to get one million or two days of complete leisure! Then after that on a daily basis she demands to do a few laps up and down the dwelling room or anything. Then take a look at lifting her knees up! All this may increasingly ultimately aid it to believe larger and mover round extra!

Answer 6

My mother has had two total knee replacements...You need to do EVERYTHING for her at first...Do not let her go up and down the stairs. Eventualy she will get stronger...It is imortant that she get stronger slowly,as to let the knee heal.I would try to move anything she likes from the upstairs down. The downstairs can be her haven for awhile...What you have written sounds wonderful already...Good for you!

Answer 7

Get her one of those auto seats for the stairs that takes you up and down, by sitting on a chair, that is connected to a railing. It spins you around the stairs. Probably not cheep, so see if insurance will cover it.

Answer 8

Try to keep as much as possible on one floor. Make sure there are items around the room she can grab onto when walking in case she loses balance. That's important.

Answer 9

She can always sleep downstairs until she recovers. And tell her to lay off the work.

Answer 10

Well,

Why should she have to climb the stairs?

You can go get anything upstairs that she needs!

Dawg