Surgical operations are often necessary for seniors because they are more susceptible to falls, injuries, and various diseases and conditions. You or a loved one should be available to guide a senior through the pre- and post-operation plans and care to increase the odds of a successful operation and recovery. Below are some tips to help you do so.
Learn Everything You Can About the Operation
Your senior loved one should never accept any surgical procedures unless they know what exactly they entail. Only when you understand it can you explain it to them in such a way that they not only understand it themselves but also get comfortable going through with it.
Arrange for both you or a caregiver and your loved one to talk to the doctor, surgeon, and other healthcare professionals who will be involved. Discuss the procedure itself, its side effects, recovery, outlook, and available options to ensure a loved one does not get operated on unless it is necessary.
Also, ask questions about what you need to know and do before the operation to ensure everything runs smoothly.
Discuss Costs
Costs can put a lot of strain on a loved one and the whole family. Insurance may cover part of the operation and some medications, but you need to know how to cover the rest. This is why it is so important that all parties involved know about the cost before agreeing to anything.
Fortunately, some hospitals provide resources for seniors to help them cover these resources as well as payment plans to make things easier on everyone. Regardless of how much everything will cost, you should do everything you can to get your loved one the required operation. Their overall health, longevity, and quality of life will improve drastically and that will be enough for the sacrifices made and effort put into ensuring they get the care they need.
Plan for Postoperative Care
Seniors need a lot more care during recovery than young people do. Because of this, do consider arranging for professional care after the surgery. A professional will assess your loved one’s unique needs and tailor their services and care to their needs.
If you cannot afford a professional, arrange for someone to be at home with them. This person should know everything about your loved one’s care, what they need and the challenges they will likely face during recovery.
Another option is to consider short-term assisted living options. The short term assisted living services offered by Belmont Village, for example, include medical care for a senior loved one, onsite nurses at all times, and monitoring round the clock. Your loved one can get the care they need if you are not able to or do not have the skills to provide the care they require.
Caring for a senior loved one before and after their surgery can be very stressful. Plan everything and ensure you have as much knowledge about the procedure as possible. If you get overwhelmed, do not hesitate to get in touch with a professional to ensure your loved one continues receiving the level of care they deserve.
