How to Prepare Your Home When a Loved One Is Coming Home from Surgery
There’s nothing like post-surgery recovery to remind you that caregiving is not for the faint of heart, or the easily grossed out. When my husband had hip surgery in April, I became a full-time nurse, part-time waitress, and reluctant home safety coordinator. At one point, I found myself reading Amazon reviews for bottom-wiping tools at 11 p.m., which is a sentence I never expected to type.
Recovery takes time, and the little things like getting dressed, climbing out of bed, and sitting on the toilet suddenly require the coordination of a small pit crew and the patience of a saint. (Spoiler: I am not a saint.)
If someone you love is preparing for surgery, I won’t pretend it’s easy. But I can share a post surgery recovery list of items that actually made our lives easier. Some were suggested by medical professionals. Others we learned about after a few missteps (and a couple of bruised shins). Either way, they helped. And when you’re sleep-deprived and stressed, helpful is worth its weight in gold.
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Helpful Items for At-Home Surgery Recovery
Sock Aid Tool
Getting socks on after hip or knee surgery is no small task, especially when bending is off the table. This sock aid tool makes the process so much easier. Foam handles offer a better grip, and it works with most types of socks. It’s not glamorous, but it’s effective. My sister-in-law saw it and thought it looked like a fabulous idea so I bought one to give her for Christmas.
Pill Bags
Keeping track of medication can get overwhelming fast, especially if multiple prescriptions are involved. These small pill bags are easy to label and great for staying organized, whether you’re managing a daily schedule at home or prepping doses for a short trip. I always travel with these now because it’s more compact and easier to pack than my weekly pill organizer.
Bottom Wiping Tool
Not something most people want to talk about, but if you’ve had surgery or limited mobility, this bottom wiping tool is a game changer. It extends your reach so you can maintain independence and dignity in the bathroom. It’s discreet, easy to use, and frankly, a sanity saver.
Flushable Wipes
After surgery, comfort matters… and that includes in the bathroom. These fragrance-free wipes are gentle and easy to use. Not fancy, but appreciated.
Grippy Socks
Hospitals usually send you home with one pair of grippy socks, but it’s smart to have extras. These socks stay put, offer good traction on slick floors, and don’t pinch or bind. A small thing that makes a big difference.
Reusable Ice Packs
These gel packs stay flexible even when frozen and are large enough to cover the back or legs. They come in a pack of two, so there’s always one that’s cold. They hold their chill longer than most and are sturdy enough to last through recovery.
If your loved one is dealing with hip surgery or inflammation, like my husband was, this wrap helps deliver cold therapy exactly where you need it. It stays in place and conforms to the body in a way that loose ice packs never do.
Raised Toilet Seat
It’s not something you think about until you need it, but this raised seat makes bathroom trips so much easier. The added height and padded arms help with balance and support, especially when sitting and standing are a challenge. We jokingly called ours the “platinum throne”.
Grabber Assist Tool
These grabber tools let you pick things up or reach high shelves without bending or straining. Handy doesn’t begin to cover it. We made a parlor game out out seeing just how well these worked and discovered they will even grab and pick up a thin dime.
Wedge Pillow
Sleeping after surgery can feel impossible without the right support. This wedge set helps you elevate your legs, knees, or upper body depending on your needs. The memory foam holds its shape well, and the setup is surprisingly versatile.
Caregiver Pager System
If you can’t be within earshot every moment, this little pager system is a lifesaver. No shouting across the house. Just a gentle call button for when they need water, meds… or help finding the remote. We do have a bell he could’ve rung, but something about that rubbed me the wrong way. It felt a little too “Downton Abbey” meets “nursing home”—and not in a charming way.
Rolling Bedside Table
It’s a simple thing, but having a rolling bedside table means your everyday essentials like meals, water, reading glasses, medicine, etc., are all in reach. This makes day-to-day tasks a little more manageable for both the patient and the caregiver.
Adjustable Bed Rail
Getting in and out of bed becomes more complicated after surgery. This adjustable bed rail offers steady support and helps prevent falls. It installs without tools and doesn’t look too clinical.
Car Handle Assist
Car seats are low, and car doors are not stable supports. This tool slides into the door latch and gives you a solid handhold to push up from. It’s small enough to keep in the glove box and makes outings a little easier.
Temporary Grab Bars
These temporary grab bars attach to tile or glass without drilling. Perfect for helping with balance in the shower, and they’re quick to install and easy to remove.
Adjustable Shower Stool
Standing for long showers isn’t always practical during recovery. This chair is lightweight but stable, and it swivels so you can move without twisting. The rubber tips help keep it in place even on wet tile.
Other Tools That Might Be Helpful for Post-Surgery Recovery:
- No-Rinse Bathing Wipes: A quick way to feel clean without the hassle of a full shower.
- Pulse Oximeter: Handy for keeping an eye on oxygen levels during recovery.
- Back Scratchers: Because there’s always an itch you suddenly can’t reach.
- Swivel Seat Cushion: Makes getting in and out of chairs or the car a little smoother and less awkward.
- Support Cane: Choose one with good grip and wrist support for better balance and control.
- Waterproof Leg Cast Cover: Keeps foot and ankle dressings dry in the shower without a struggle.
- Pill Tracker Stickers: A simple way to remember if you actually took your medication today.
- Motion-Activated Night Lights: Helpful for late-night bathroom trips or moving safely in the dark.
- Seat Belt Pillows: Adds comfort and protection over tender chest or abdominal surgery areas.
- Bio-Oil Skincare: Gentle and effective for soothing dry or sensitive post-op skin.
Having even a few of these items ready before surgery can make a stressful time feel more manageable…maybe not easy, but a little less overwhelming. Caregiving doesn’t come with a manual (though it probably should), and no two recoveries are exactly the same. But the right tools really can take the edge off for both of you.
Have you gone through a home recovery with a spouse, parent, or friend? I’d love to know what helped or what you wish you’d known before you were suddenly in charge of ice packs, meds, and bathroom logistics.
Thank you for this great list. I highly recommend that those of us who have entered advanced middle age should have grab bars permanently installed in the showers and baths. This was a recommendation from our Primary Care MD, and no, neither of us had fallen. Many falls happen because older adults slip in the bathroom. One other piece of advice to the caregiver: go one day at a time and get some time away every few days until things are normal. Also, the first couple of days home from any hospital stay are usually the hardest.
That’s great advice!
Very informative. Useful information that we can all use. Thank you so very much.
The item that was absolutely wonderful during a recent illness, was a bidet seat. My son installed an electrical outlet in our toilet area. We bought a bidet seat and found it to be an easy and effective way to take care of the cleanliness issue. It is now used all the time. Do consider it as a useful item to add to your bathroom. It is handy for all age groups, but particularly good for an aging population.
That’s a wonderful idea and would be so helpful!
Great advice. All my friends are having one or the other of these surgeries. I know our time will come. Thank you
Such a great list thank you Jennifer.
What a comprehensive list. Thank you. Very helpful indeed!
I bought some of these items in the past for my parents to age in place. Then a friend who had knee surgery borrowed some, including the shower stool. Another item I recommend is no-rinse shampoo caps.
Jennifer, what an awesome list you’ve compiled! Thank you. I’m saving this for the next surgery one of us may require (between my husband and me we’ve done 2 knees, 1 hip and a shoulder thus far…). This must have taken you a LOT of work! Thank you.
Hi! My husband had his hip replaced October 2024, and used a few of the tools you mentioned. His recovery went quite well and physical therapy is very important and should not be skipped.
The physical therapy is so critical to a successful result.
This is why I so look forward to reading your posts! Fashion and those helpful hints that no one talks about. I broke my leg last year at 68 yrs young. Luckily, I was able to use an extremely stiff brace that I could remove to shower, still with no weight at all on the leg. The best tool I had was a shower chair. Even my husband enjoyed the chair. Secondly, when my father broke his ankle at 94 yrs, with the help of others who cared for aging parents, I gathered almost every one of the items you mention. Again, thank you.
My husband had a knee replacement and rotator cuff repair surgeries and the ice therapy machine was a lifesaver. Luckily my kids would drop off bags of ice for him each day, but for the first couple weeks it was so helpful and covered by insurance!
Good to know. I will check with our insurance provider when he gets the knee done.
These are wonderful suggestions for patients and caregivers. I had shoulder surgery last year and I was not prepared for being in a sling for six weeks straight. My husband was a saint. You really need so much more help then you think. I couldn’t drive for ages. It really helps to be prepared for sure.
Jennifer,
Good information for the home caregiver.
As a RN of almost 50 years, it is so wonderful to see all of these home medical equipment items available now for families caring for their loved ones.
I’m living this life right now as the husband had full knee replacement last week. Last year it was back surgery, year before hip replacement. These are all great suggestions especially the flexible ice packs; we purchased 4 and keep them on rotation. My husbands favorite recliner has been bolstered higher with extra pillows but I think a foam bolster would be real helpful.
Wishing him a speedy recovery!
A wonderful column! Thank you. There’s one item I found very useful, a shampoo and conditioner in a cap. You heat the cap in the microwave for less than a minute, and then pop it on your head and massage away for a few minutes. There’s liquid in the cap, and when you take it off, your hair is soaking wet and clean! It was so useful for me when I was bedridden and couldn’t get to the shower. It’s but Medline, and is called Shower in a cap. I bought them from Amazon. People find 5hem useful on camping trips. .
They sound like a must have!
What a great idea to include this information on your blog. It’s a great list for current or future caregivers.
I’m still wiping away tears from laughing so hard! You are hysterical! Now that the worst has passed, I’m sure there is more levity than when you were in the midst of things….
I’ve bilateral hips and knees (did the knees together about they were a breeze compared to hips). I was still teaching, so did everything in the summer. My husband left me a sandwich each morning and waved as he headed out the door to work. Guess I learned to manage on my own pretty fast! The worst part for me was struggling to get in and out of the shower on crutches; visiting nurses held their breath each time they visited!
Thank you Jenn for the chuckles….glad the worst is behind you and your husband.
Thanks for the list of items. After hubby’s 3rd hip surgery, we left the hospital with a lot of these items, and thank goodness for speedy Amazon deliveries. I ordered the car assist handle which will make getting in and out of the car for follow up doctor appointments much easier. The second time leaving the hospital, the case manager said we’d have home health care based on our insurance. What I didn’t realize at the time was that III was his home health care! I gave him all his IV antibiotics and have gotten quite the education! Thank you again for providing life AND fashion ideas!
Wow, you are a trouper!
Jennifer, this is a very comprehensive list! Also, a “3 in one commode” can be used as a shower chair, a raised toilet seat (just remove the bucket) and a bedside commode if space is limited. My husband just had his 22nd and 23rd surgeries this spring, including 6 joint replacements over the years. He’s very lucky he married an RN, but I’m pretty tired! It’s important to assess your home prior to surgery as well, to clear pathways, remove throw rugs, evaluate furniture. This time around, we replaced his rocker swivel recliner for a stationary one with a power recliner. It was much more stable and we got a great deal on a new one at a consignment store. Good luck and happy healing to your husband!
Where I live we can get a lot of equipment to use on a temporary basis for free thru the Red Cross – ($ donations are appreciated) and thru some medical lending organizations.
The pharmacy is great for putting pills in bubble wrap to use as required.
As others mentioned the flushable wipes are not for the sewer system. One can just use face cloths.
This is so helpful. My husband and I have been through a total of 5 ortho surgeries, and though we’ve learned about new aids each time, your post made me aware of several items we could have used. This post is a keeper and one to share!