More than 300,000 people experience a hip fracture in the United States each year.
The vast majority of these people will be over the age of 65, and the leading cause of a hip fracture is a fall. Though it requires much more force to cause such an injury to younger adults, a seemingly minor fall or impact can severely injure older adults, particularly one who may struggle with health problems that lead to a low bone density such as osteoporosis. If your aging loved one suffers a hip fracture, the doctor will most likely recommend hip surgery for them.
This type of procedure is the most common form of treatment for hip fractures and can not only relieve pain, but also boost flexibility, increase mobility, and provide stabilization to the joint for better balance and functioning. While this is a common medical procedure, it also requires a potentially long and challenging recovery. Know your senior will only stay in the hospital for a few days and will regain much of their functioning within a few months, total recovery can take up to a year. During this time, you will need to give them dedicated care and support to help them meet their needs and challenges and continue to support them through their recovery. While there are many steps you can take to provide this care, one of the most valuable can be home care.
Some of the ways home care can be valuable for your aging loved one after hip surgery include:
- Even if your senior can get up and walk around fairly easily following their hip surgery, they are likely to get tired more easily, and will need to give their hip joint time to rest. A home care provider can manage tasks throughout the home such as laundry, dishes, tidying, and taking out the trash to give your parent the opportunity to rest.
- Meal and snack preparation can be valuable in helping your loved one get good nutrition throughout their recovery. Getting the right nutrients is vital to supporting their body and staying healthy and in recovery, but cooking meals can be harder for a senior right after surgery. This meal preparation can ease the stress and help to prevent your parent from constantly reaching for convenience foods when they aren’t able to cook.
- Medication reminders help your parent to stay compliant with any prescriptions they are given by their doctor. This compliance is about taking their medications when and how they are supposed to in order to maximize the benefits. Many elderly adults take more than one medication on a daily basis, and it can be confusing and overwhelming to try to remember them all, especially when one is new. These reminders can keep your parent on track and help prevent complications.
- Assistance with personal care needs such as bathing, toileting, and grooming helps your parent to maintain their hygiene, stay comfortable and healthy, and also preserve their safety as they deal with the challenges of moving around immediately following surgery.
- A care provider can encourage your parent to get active as soon after hip surgery as possible. Physical support, as well as emotional encouragement, can help your parent to get the exercise they need to support a strong joint and keep a healthier body.
There may be times when you are not able to follow through with your care schedule as a family caregiver.
You might become ill, you may need to care for an ill child or partner, you may be needed at an event or activity for your children or for work, or you may simply experience stress and exhaustion to the point when you need to take a step back from your care efforts and get a break. When this happens, respite care may be the ideal solution. With this type of senior care, a respite care provider steps in on a temporary or urgent basis to provide consistent care to manage your loved one’s needs. They can follow your parent’s routine as much as possible to keep them safe and healthy while you focus on your other needs.
If you or a family member are in need of Elderly Care in Aventura, FL, call the caring professionals at Star Multi Care today at (954) 870-4770.
Providing service in Boca Raton, West Palm Beach, Delray Beach, Boynton Beach, Weston, Southwest Ranches, Pembroke Pines, Cooper City, Lighthouse Point, and Wilton Manors.
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