ARTICLES / General /
Getting Ready for Joint Replacement /
Other ArticlesBy Hilary Wright
Age is no longer the determining prerequisite
for whether or not a person will receive joint
replacement surgery. Constant athletic activity,
a busy lifestyle, and the natural wear and tear
of time on the body’s joints have made people of
all ages candidates for this type of surgery. An
amazing amount of advancements have been made
through medical technology regarding this
procedure, perfecting it to the point where
recovery time has been cut in half for most
people. However, even prior to the recuperative
process, those who will be facing surgery will
need to select a caregiver who will be able to
assist them through all the different phases.
If you’re about to step into the role of primary
caregiver for someone who’ll be undergoing joint
replacement surgery, you may want to consider doing
a few things ahead of time in order to ready
yourself for the task. After the surgery, most
people will need round-the-clock care for several
days and/or weeks (depending upon which joint was
replaced and their age), since their mobility will
be greatly reduced, possibly even nonexistent for a
time. With this in mind, it will be important for
you to speak with your employer to arrange for time
off from your job. It really isn’t a good idea to
work, even at home, while being a caregiver for
someone since this will needlessly increase the
amount of stress that you may experience. Whether
you work for a major corporation or for a small,
family-owned business, as a family caregiver
(someone who is a spouse, child or parent), certain
legal rights under the Family and Medical Leave Act
(FMLA) of 1993 protect your position. In other
words, your employer is not allowed to fire you or
put you on any type of probation should you need to
take time off in order to care for a family member
due to medical reasons.
If you’re a caregiver who will have to leave your
own home in order to stay with a loved one while
they recuperate, whether it’s only across town or
across the country, it’s a good idea for you to
speak with a trusted neighbor. While you’ll be busy
with the day-to-day business of caring for someone,
your neighbor will be able to keep an eye on your
place, and contact you should an emergency arise. Be
sure to get your neighbor’s telephone number as
well, so you can check in with them at least once
during the time that you are away. After you’ve
squared things away with a neighbor or friend, you
can then begin to think of what you’ll need to take
with you. Keep in mind, you’ll have a lot of “down
time” while you wait in the doctor’s office, in the
hospital, and in a rehabilitation facility, not to
mention when you’re hanging around your loved one’s
home, so pack and plan accordingly. This can be a
positive opportunity for you to do things you
normally wouldn’t have a chance to do, like: reading
the latest novel by your favorite author; creating a
true novelty item in the way of a handwritten letter
to a friend or family member; catching up on and
organizing important, household paperwork; tending
to a forgotten hobby or craft (however, make sure
that it’s something small and easy to pack);
catching up on sleep (some hospitals will let family
caregivers stay in the room at night if room is
available). Aside from the usual essentials that you
should pack for your stay at the hospital or at a
loved one’s home (such as comfortable shoes and
clothes, as well as your own medications), it’s very
important to place the following documents in a
manila envelope for easy transportation: all of your
loved one’s medical documentation; a listing of all
medications, nutritional supplements, allergies, and
health conditions; legal documents like a Durable
Power of Attorney, a Living Will, as well as
identification for yourself; insurance information
and prescription cards, along with the contact names
and numbers. You may also want to purchase a
pre-paid phone card that you can use to make
long-distance phone calls to friends and families
while you’re in the hospital with your loved one.
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