Simple, basic, preparation can make a world of difference to your postoperative recovery. It allows you to concentrate on recovering from surgery without the extra stresses associated with daily life.

Things to consider

  • Roll up mats and other tripping hazards
  • Rearrange furniture- allow for easy access to door way, bathrooms etc
  • Remove pot plants that clutter verandahs, doorways & paths
  • Roll up the garden hoses/ have ease of access to garden paths & gates.
  • Stock up the pantry, fridge and freezer
  • Have meals planned and prepared
  • For those that are isolated from shops, consider some long life milk in the pantry and bread in the freezer.
  • Organise pets. Plan ahead with canned pet food to make shopping after surgery less troublesome (and lighter).
  • Plan the care of your pets whilst in hospital (neighbours/kennels)
  • Attend to those odd jobs around the house prior to surgery (light globes etc.)
  • Change bed sheets/towels prior to day of surgery- takes the stress away from dealing with washing/drying of heavy items
  • Organise/coordinate family, neighbours and friends. If you live alone: having someone that can drop in daily is ideal. If you don’t have people that can drop in, arrange family/friends to contact you on a daily basis. In this situation it is preferable if they can contact you morning and night to check all is okay.

Preparation can make a huge difference.