Q. My mother is scheduled to have her hip replaced in a few weeks, after suffering from chronic pain for many years. Her surgery has been postponed due to the COVID-19 pandemic and she can hardly wait to be relieved of her chronic pain. She’s in her mid-70s, and her care team seems hopeful for a quick recovery. Her surgeon is recommending that she receive therapy post-surgery and would like to transfer her to an inpatient rehab facility. I’m concerned about her health in the midst of COVID-19 and wondering if you have any advice before her surgery takes place?
A. With COVID numbers continuing to spike, I can appreciate your concern for your mother’s health should she need short-term rehabilitation after her hospital stay. Here are a few suggestions to ensure that your mom has a good experience and fully recovers afterwards.
Prior to surgery, review the hospital’s procedure and protocol regarding post-op. How long will she stay in recovery before she’s moved to a room? What’s the current visitor guidelines? What sort of medications will she be given to control the pain? How soon can she eat and move after surgery? What will her day look like post-op?
It is common for seniors to transfer to a short-term rehabilitation facility after a major surgery. You will want to ensure that your mom receives a qualifying stay to ensure insurance covers the costs. The case manager at the hospital will know this, but double check her hospital stay status before she’s transferred.
Because you have the luxury of knowing when her surgery is planned, please consider touring potential short-term rehab facilities now so that you can prioritize your mom’s preferences. In addition to asking about private vs shared rooms and what to expect during the stay, be sure to ask the facility about their COVID-19 precautions and how they may impact your mother’s experience. Is your mother comfortable not being able to have visitors? Are any facilities offering outdoor visits? Ask how long a typical hip-replacement stay is so that you can help your mom pack everything she needs in case you can’t visit.
When your mom is ready to go home, it’s common to receive therapy at home for a short time via home health. This often helps seniors transition back home and gives them additional support as they continue to recover. It might be worth asking your mom’s care team if they think your mom is a good candidate to discharge directly from home with home health in place. She may be able to skip the inpatient therapy stay, thus avoiding potential exposure to the coronavirus. Of course, you should always follow her doctor’s course of treatment.
Finally, I would encourage you to consider hiring senior home care services for you mom while she fully recovers from her hip replacement. If you’re not able to visit while she’s at a rehab facility due to visitor restrictions, a private caregiver might be able to visit on your behalf. Then, when your mom comes home, her caregiver will already be familiar with your mom’s routine. Also, a private caregiver will be able to assist her with needs that are not covered by home health services, such as laundry, meal preparation, and companionship.
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