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.