PREPARING   YOUR HOME FOR YOUR LIFE  WITH A TOTAL  JOINT

 

Although the goal of your total hip and / or knee surgery is to function independently in    your home, you will achieve this goal only several months after the surgery. Until then, you must adapt your home to your limited mobility during the first months after the total hip or knee surgery. Your home should be safe and easy to live in during these months.

The main rules

for preparation of   your home for you and your total joint:

bulletarrange all things so that you can reach them without bending your hips past 90 degrees.

 

bulletmake your home a safe place without  a risk for falling

 

                   Here are some points to consider:

bulletStairs:

you will be learned to climb and descend stairs before you go home. But climbing stairs several times a day may be extremely tiresome. So if you live in a multi-level home, consider where you will stay after coming home. If you have a bedroom, toilet, and bathroom upstairs, but are living the most part of the day on the ground-floor, consider arranging for living on the ground-floor only. You will need to move the bedroom, toilet, etc. to this ground-floor.


Evaluate the stairs inside and outside your home for safety, also the steps at the entrance to your house. Make sure that the handrails are sturdy, install handrails on both sides of the steps for maximum convenience and safety when going up and down. Install handrails for the steps at the entrance to your house. Of course, a sloping plateau instead of steps at the outside entrance will be a better solution.

bulletBathrooms / toilets:

Bathrooms should be safe. Remember that the first six weeks you will be on crutches. There should be room in your bathroom for you to maneuver with them. Adapt your bathroom so that you can sit without bending your hips past 90 degrees. Consider following improvements now (if you don’t have done it earlier):


installing shower instead of the bathtub,

installing a rail on wall in the shower, installing a bench /seat in the shower,

installing raised toilet seat,

installing a rail on wall beside the toilet seat,

installing non-slip mat inside the toilet and a shelf for your toilet supplies within easy reach.


bulletKitchens
Again, safety and efficiency is the guideline when you are adapting your kitchen for your postoperative needs. Place all objects in your kitchen (pots, pans, cleaning supplies) as well as frozen meals in the freezer, at waist level to avoid bending your new hip/ knee joint too much. Procure kitchen carts to carry dishes, pans,etc.

 

       Other home adaptations:


        Floors: clear your pathways from all unnecessary objects

Household Pets: You will need assistance with their care while using a walker or crutches. Consider your safety while living on crutches in a home with a household pet.


Carpets: even those with rubberized back can be an obstacle to crutches or walkers, so put them away during your recovery period.


Furniture: have high chairs and sofas to sit on - if necessary put foam cushions on them, or order chair leg heightens.


Recliners: if they have correct height they are a popular type of chairs

If your bed is too low, see if you can rent a high hospital bed


Useful devices

Long-handled reacher

Sock tool

Long-handled sponge

Backpack

Water bottle

Cordless phone with belt clip


Create a comfortable area in your living room


Place all things that you will need often within easy reach in this comfortable area. Such comfortable area may be a table placed besides a comfortable chair in your living room. Place on the table a telephone, TV remote control, notepad, newspapers, a book, a thermos bottle with warm coffee and a cup

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