If you are going to be in the hospital soon, you should plan your home rehab sooner rather than later. You can focus on getting better later when you don’t have to worry about how you’ll get your medicine or fill the fridge.
You can’t plan when you’re in the hospital with a broken bone or the flu. Even so, you can deal with many problems related to healing before you are sent home. You can get the help you need from your health team and insurance company so that nothing gets in the way of enjoying being back home.
Get Extra Help Around The House
A partner or family member may take on most caring responsibilities if you live with them. Additionally, you should get extra help to cover your helper when they need a break, are at work, or are running errands. Having different helpers may be helpful once you have them. For example,
- Buying food
- Acquiring medicines
- Meal planning
- Spending money
- Looking after pets
- Cleaning
Keep Your Spirits Up
Healing from a serious accident or surgery is not a vacation. Despite this, doing things that don’t take much physical effort might help. Doing that could mean getting lost in some good books, buying a lot of jigsaw puzzles, or calling or talking online with old friends.
When you’re feeling better after gastric bypass, it’s more important than you think to do things that make you happy. Depression is common after surgery, and studies have shown that it can make physical problems like infections more likely while you’re healing.
Ask For Assistance In Reviewing Your Care Plan
Contact your plan administrator to find out more about common costs that are covered. In some cases, you may be sent home with detailed directions on how to take care of your wounds, take your medicines, or watch out for certain symptoms.
In some cases, though, people have something called “threshold amnesia.” They forget the doctors’ and nurses’ instructions once they leave the hospital and have trouble reading the exit papers.
Take Advantage Of Special Recovery Equipment
For a while, you may need to use a walker or commode. A hospital discharge manager will talk to you, your healthcare team and your insurance company to find out what you need and what your benefits cover. They might even put in an order for you.
Also, discharge managers may be able to suggest companies that can put in grab bars or wheelchair ramps in your home. Most insurance plans don’t cover these changes, but some people may be able to get money back through health savings accounts and flexible spending accounts.
Use Prescribed Or Over-The-Counter Drugs As Directed
Before surgery, you should tell your doctor about any supplements, hearing aids, or medicines. The right medicine in the right amount can greatly lessen pain after surgery, but no surgery is pain-free. Following all medication directions given by healthcare professionals is very important for a quick recovery.
