For the geriatric population, any operation takes a big toll on their health. Their body becomes weak and leads to fatigue from the pain. However, recovering from the surgery does not solely depend on the quality of post-operative care but also on preparing for the preoperative care at home.
Senior caregivers have to be thoroughly prepared for both the stages of surgeries that the elderly person will be undergoing.
Elderly people need the physical and mental strength to get into the surgery and also recover from it. The caregivers and nurses should assist them in strength-building fbefore and after the surgical procedure takes place.
Elderly caretakers should ensure that the preoperative care at home involves the strength and immunity building of the patient. This stage is also imperative for the elderly person to have mental and emotional support before they go into surgery.
The post-operative care at home for the elderly is extremely crucial. It involves regaining the strength to recover from the pain and fatigue of the surgery. This stage also includes senior caregivers ensuring that the surroundings at home are safe to avoid any form of accident that can lead to fatalities.
Let us look at the important factors that senior caregivers must keep in mind during pre and post-operative care at home :
Pre operative care at home :
1.Continuous appointments with doctors
The senior caregivers must ensure that the elderly person is available for all the doctor’s appointments before the surgery. This will ensure that the nuances of surgery are properly understood by the patient. The doctors can also check and carry out routine examinations to understand if the elderly person’s body has the strength to undergo surgery or if it needs more time.
2.Undergoing medication to prepare for surgery
Caregivers must ensure that the elderly person is taking the medication at the right time and following all the preoperative care instructions at home that have been suggested by the doctors.
Home nurses should also be prompt in making sure that proper medication management is taking place. They should also coordinate with the healthcare providers to know if the prescriptions are updated or if there are changes in the medicinal doses.
3.Taking adequate rest
During the preoperative care at home, caregivers attending to elderly patients must ensure that they are taking adequate rest, both physically and mentally.
Elderly people going into surgery should not be stressed or feel anxious as it will have an indirect impact on their physical health. This is primarily seen in those senior patients who have impending heart operations. Caretakers must ensure that elderly patient does not take part in any tedious chores or physically exhausting activities. They might go for brisk walks but not engage in something that might cause them harm.
4.Eat healthy food
Diet and nutrition form an integral part of preoperative care at home. Anvayaa has expert dieticians and nutritionists who plan the elderly person’s diet before they go into surgery. The meals must be prepared and served by the nurses and cooks in a timely manner. They must also ensure that the meals are enriched in strength-building nutrients and safe ingredients as prescribed by the doctor.
The day prior to the surgery, the nurses and caregivers must ensure that the elderly patient is hydrated enough.
Post-operative care at home
1.Taking care of the surroundings and hygiene
During the post-operative care at home, nurses must ensure the surroundings of the home must be safe and accessible. After the surgery, the elderly person must-have comfort and safety.
The floors of the home should be kept dry to prevent sleeping. The caretaker should regularly check the functionality of the wheelchair to prevent any accidents from happening. The elderly patient should be assisted when they go to the washrooms. Along with this, post-operative care at home also includes the patient caretaker ensuring the proper maintenance of hygiene. The elderly person’s wounds and dressings should change regularly, and their bedsheets must be cleaned frequently to avoid any chances of infection.
2.Proper nutrition
During both pre and post-operative care at home, nutrition plays a crucial role in regaining the body’s strength and stamina. Elderly people, after their surgery, must be given only semi-solid or liquid meals initially. Following that, meals enriched with vitamins and anti-oxidants should be prepared for them to make the body and immune system strong.
3.Physiotherapy
Anvayaa’s post-operative care also includes physiotherapy services at home to ensure the elderly person regains their mobility and body balance. Prioritised and progressive physiotherapy routines are planned by specialist and nurses that suits the capacity and morale of the elderly patient for a gradual recovery into their active lifestyle.
Anvayaa’s pre and post-operative care at home for the elderly is executed by a team of trusted and reliable caregiving professionals
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