Full knee replacement scheduled but no access to toilet or kitchen

Posted , 7 users are following.

Hi all , My sister in law have now been off work for several weeks now and has been referred to a specialist knee surgeon who has confirmed she requires a full knee replacement and the other knee is not good either which is scheduled for Jan 2019 . Whilst this is a good way forward to alleviate the immense pain she is experiencing . I have concerns about her welfare after she leaves hospital as she lives in a maisonette which has no toilet upstairs and the kitchen downstairs .

I have asked her to make contact now with her council and also social services to see what support she can receive, but all that has been offered is an assessment when she comes home .

Can anyone suggest anywhere else that she can try ? at the moment she has to slide down the stairs on her backside to the toilet and kitchen and when she wants to sleep then has to pull herself up the stairs to bed as she cannot stand or bend on the problem legs

To add to the problem we live in the midlands and she lives in London

Any help or suggestions appreciated

0 likes, 5 replies

5 Replies

  • Posted

    hopefully a good friend would accomodate her during first few months,

    or maybe she would have to go into respite care , ... but that costs

  • Posted

    Contact Adult Social Services for a home assessment/help. There are things like commodes for downstairs, a second bannister handrail may help, a shower seat, raised toilet seat and grab rails. A helping hand picker upper if she drops things. But she is still going to need assistance with emptying commode, with meals/drinks, shopping, laundry, house cleaning etc. If not get GP to contact Social Services. Some of the equipment can be purchased from Mobility aid equipment shops. But sounds like she needs assistance now. Good luck. They are a very stretched service but can give good advice and signpost you.

  • Posted

    i had my daughter come care for me the first 10 days. I felt so grateful & would have had an extremely difficult time without her care getting food, helping to bathroom & shower, renewing ice packs, etc.. I cried when she left but i did fine. She will need a raised toilet seat, a walker or cane. very helpful to me was a sliding stool to get over & into my tub which has a shower & it is attached with a stool inside the tub to sit on. Perhaps she can just rent a bed to sleep on down stairs? STAIRS ARE NOT EASY AT ALL....even at 6 months postop.

    if she can afford it maybe she can go from the hospital to a rehab center for a few days.

    BEST OF LUCK.

  • Posted

    Sleep downstairs , maybe she can be kept in hospital longer or rehab , or stay with a friend . It will be hard with no one to help get food , ice packs etc , cant she stay with family?

  • Posted

    my bathroom is up stairs and kitchen so I got a portable toilet for when I am downstairs and going up the stairs i use a cane I also got a rise to lift seat I got all the thing from meijer your insurance my cover some also check with the social worker at the hospital if they a get into a rehab center where you can stay Good luck take it slow

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