For an elderly person, recovering from surgery on his or her own can be an extremely daunting task. Where joint replacement is involved, it can be a near impossible task as movement can be very limited. With Home Health, many services are provided that make rehabilitation much more bearable. Aides, Nurses, and Physical Therapist all work together in a combined effort to help ensure that all of a patients needs are met. So after a joint replacement, how can each of these professionals specifically help you in your recovery?

Nurses

1. Nurses check all vital signs to ensure that the patient's body is recovering properly.


2. Often times a patient will be on blood thinner and other medications, so a nurse will be there to make sure that the proper doses and medications are taken.
   
   
3. PT/INR- Nurses perform tests to monitor a patient's blood thinner levels.

Physical Therapists

1. After a joint replacement, it is crucial that a patient gradually works back in to full movement of the joint. A Physical Therapist will help a patient accomplish this.


2. A Physical Therapist will come to the patient's home and help them with excercises and movements tailored to their exact needs.


3. For a typical situation, a Physical Therapist will make around 12 visits, each of these visits providing an opportunity for the patient to increase his or her range of motion and recover more fully.

Aides

1. An Aide is an added bonus that makes recovery more comfortable for a patient and is provided through Home Health.


2. Aides help in many simple daily tasks that become difficult after surgery. A few include bathing, showering, and getting dressed for the day.


3. Once these tasks are accomplished, time permitting, an Aide can also do some light cleaning or any other small tasks that are necessary to help a patient feel more comfortable in their own home.

Everyone deserves to have great healthcare in the comfort of their own home, especially when recovering from surgery. It doesn't matter what type of joint replacement surgery a patient has to endure, having Home Health available during the recovery period is a benefit that each patient should enjoy!