Let me start by saying, these recommendations are not given by a healthcare professional. Instead, a patient who had hip surgery offers how she prepared. Weeks before the hospital stay, due to her single and alone status, she took these action steps. The home needs attention to ensure that a patient can maintain the necessary tasks of daily living.

The following should not replace the advice of your doctor and other medical professionals familiar with your case. The physician’s office and hospital staff may have aftercare resources to help the patient with limits or no outside support. Resources:

Facebook groups – “search” in FB for these closed groups. You will need to request to join

Total Hip Replacement Forum – Look for the one that’s headed up by a professional physical therapist. This particular group admin and therapist had both hips replaced. She is an outstanding resource.

Nextdoor.com – a private social networking site for neighborhoods. Connect with neighbors, and find information specific to a neighborhood. Often, teenagers look for odd jobs during the summer break, and they might be a great source of help

YouTube – search topics such as “preparing for hip surgery,” “hip surgery recovery” and “how to dress yourself after hip surgery” for ideas

Rover.com – to locate people providing pet care services for a fee

Go to https://holdmail.usps.com/holdmail/ – To have your mail held while you are away from home, and then resume upon return

For the home – get these before going to the hospital due to mobility issues:

—Clean the house, particularly kitchen and bathroom

—Do laundry (linens, towels, clothing)

—Put clean linens on bed

—Pick up throw rugs and tack down loose carpeting

—Remove electrical cords and other obstructions from pathways

—Install nightlights in bathrooms, bedrooms, and hallways

—Place all items that you regularly use at or above waist level, as you will not be able to bend

Transportation & Delivery Services – You will not be able to drive, due to pain medication and weakness in the leg – particularly if it is the right hip. (I was not released to drive until my 4-week follow-up exam.) Schedule with UBER, LYFT or a taxi in advance. Or have the hospital schedule a medical transport service. (Ask for a ride on your neighborhood Nextdoor.com.)

If you haven’t yet, please opt-in to my upcoming Newsletter called Age with Purpose. It will roll out shortly and arrive via email each week. Send an email to [email protected] and in the subject line put Newsletter. Thank you.