Help after returning home

[Eeyore346]

Hi All

I was wondering how much help you needed after returning home. I will be returing to my apt after being released from hospital. I live with my 20 year old son who is mentally challanged. He is very high functioning and can take care of himself.

I gather that I will be able to walk with a walker when I get home. I have a lift chair recliner so I won't need help getting up. I have a riser on my toilet. My son can cook easy meals which I will stock up on before surgery. I will be taking the local transit (door to door service with an attendant who will help you from your door into the van with a lift) to physical therapy.

Am I overlooking something that I need? I have been getting a lot of phone calls from friends and church friends offering to help in any way they can.

Thanks for any advise you can give me. My 1st surgery is Ju7ne 30 and the 2nd is August 11

 

[newwheels08]

Everything you listed seems fine and essential. I also had a "hip kit" which consisted of a reacher grabber tool, sock tool. clothes hook, and long shoe horn. These are really helpful in getting dressed. Best wishes

 

[Eeyore346]

Because of being in so much pain with my knees and recent knee surgeries, I already use the grabber, shoe horn, sock aide, etc.

Thank you

 

[Josephine]

Accept your friends' offers of help. Keep a list of people who have offered and ring the changes, that way you won't feel like you are imposing on them. You can't have too many, even if it's only for doing small jobs, making a casserole or going to the store for you. You'll bless them by letting them letting them bless you.

Anyway, that's what church is all about, isn't it? Family and being supportive? If the need and opportunity arose, I'll bet you'd be round to someone else like a shot if you thought they needed some help.

 

[westexas]

EEYORE,
HELLO...HOW ABOUT THE SEAT IN THE SHOWER AND YOU MENTIONED FOOD. THE BLESSING FOR ME WAS PEOPLE BRINGING FOOD. I HAVE A HUSBAND AND THREE KIDS AT HOME, ONE OFF AT COLLEGE. THAT WAS THE BEST GIFT EVER. WE JUST FROZE THE ONES WE COULD NOT GET TOO AND THAT LASTED US ALMOST THREE WEEKS. THAT WOULD TAKE A BURDEN OFF OF YOU AND YOUR SON. JUST WARM UP AND EAT AND HAVE THEM BRING FOOD IN DISPOSABLE CONTAINERS. I ALSO BOUGHT A TRAY SIMILAR TO THE ONE IN THE HOSPITAL TO HAVE NEXT TO MY BED. IT FIT PERFECTLY AND WAS NOT THAT EXPENSIVE. IT HAS ROLLERS. GOOD LUCK...westexas

 

[westexas]

Hey Josephine,
Minds Work In Mysterious Ways. You Just Posted Before I Did And Yes,,,the Food,,,biggest Help Ever....westexas

 

[ano]

Doctors are different, but mine wouldn't let me home from the hospital unless someone could be with me most of the time for week. I'm really glad I had that person (wife who took off from work) as well. You'll have to decide if your son can be that person, but its better to err on the cautious side. If you have no one, a rehab hospital is another choice.

I think many people seem to underestimate how large an operation this is. It isn't minor, and you will need someone to help you, and for safety if something should happen.

 

[sunshine]

Hi Josephine,
I just came home and I get tired easily. I agree with everyone "food " is the best gift and some company now and then to talk. I have my daughter to help with my laundry and the cooking for now. Sandy

 

[JACQUELINE]

I had a walker with a seat on it and then I put a tray on the seat. That way I could put my meals on the tray to take to the recliner. It helped immensely.

 

[Josephine]

I'm stuck when it comes to having help in the house if I am ill. I live miles away from my church and though quite a few people would be willing to help, they seem to be the ones without transport! Sometimes you just have to get on with it and cope best you can.

 

[Eeyore346]

Thanks for all the great ideas. I think I will tell people when they ask to sign up to bring a meal. I should have thoguht out my timing a little better. I will be coming home from hospital right before the fourth of July weekend. Might be harder to get help during this busy time.

 

[Vjklander]

My wife stayed with me in the hospital and in the afternoon of my THR surgery the PT guy came in and had me doing the exercises. That is really about the only thing I really needed help with, particularly the horizontal leg slides. I just couldn't move my leg sideways on my own at all - mostly due to my knee getting messed up during the surgery. Anyway, I did the exercises every hour in the hospital and about the same at home, so my wife helped slide my leg sideways until I finally could do it myself. That really is about the only thing I could not do for myself.