Caring for mother after hip replacment

My daughter stayed at home with me for the first two days, then went back to work (she lives here but works long and weird hours). 

I slept on the chaise part of our sofa when I got home because it was firm and I could line the back with cushions and rest my op side there, with my knee either raised or not when back-sleeping.

I had the coffee table right there. It had my meds, water bottles, remotes, phones, snack food and anything else I decided I "needed". 

If I walked around the house to the loo or wherever on crutches, I always put one of the phones in a pocket, just in case of a fall. I made sure to have numbers of people close by in case of emergency.

I put non-slip mats in my kitchen and bathroom (one in the shower stall and one on the bathroom floor where it's likely to get wet during a shower.

Coffee was the hardest. Rocketman had a kitchen vegetable trolley to handle his stuff. I didn't. But my daughter had an insulated coffee cup with a lid, so I used that. I meant hobbling with only one crutch when meant to be using two, but at least I got my caffeine fix when my daughter was working.

I didn't have any loo seat risers or other gadgetry other than my crutches, but I have a grab bar right near the loo so that helped.

If the hospital is not providing dressings, check your local pharmacies to see if they have dressings large enough to cover the scar site if they need to be changed. Not all pharmacies carry really large ones.

You mother will probably need help on stairs for a few days at least. I didn't go outside at all for about 9 days after my surgery, but the first walk to the GP (only 100 metres from the house) was quite hard. It's a downhill walk there and uphill back. And then I had to do the stairs as well... My daughter was at home the day of my appointment, so she was able to ensure I didn't fall.

Your mother won't be "bed-bound", but she will lie down a lot more than usual. She will also probably not be able to get comfortable whether in bed or up and about. I know I frequently changed positions. I was either up or down and slept in fits and starts.

She'll be upset (post-op blues). She might have swollen and bruised legs. Help her with the TEDs; and make sure she has some simple flip-flops or similar to get around in for the first few weeks. Loose clothing, especially on the first few outdoor walks. That kind of stuff.

they get you up in Hospital the following day and you have to be mobile before you are allowed out. the third hand which you can get at a Chemists and also a long shoe horn. you need a toilet raiser which the you will have fitted and they will measure your bed to make sure its the right hight also the chair you will sit in. I am not sure if they are sent from the hospital or on a Doctors referal, they also lent me a trolley on wheels so i could wheel my meals from the kitchen. i live on my own and managed except for the pressure stockings which you need some one to do for you. i am 76 but reasonably fit but i bought some ready meals for the microwave, Tesco finest were very good. i slept downstairs as my stairs are quite steep but after a few weeks i slept upstairs. hope this helps?