Adapting to Life After Surgery: Mobility Aids for Recovery
Life after surgery can be difficult to manage, especially after a large operation.
This can leave you bed-bound for a couple of months or limit your mobility and ability to carry out simple tasks. However, with the right mobility aids, the process can be made significantly smoother.
Today, Millercare will walk you through some essential aids and tips to help you fully recover and adapt to life after surgery.
1. Essential Mobility Aids
Every person recovers differently from surgery, but mobility aids can speed up the process or help you navigate the situation better.
Some essential mobility aids to help you include:
- Walking canes: Walking canes can help you manoeuvre around your home, adding some normality back into your routine after surgery.
- Mobility walkers: Mobility walkers are ideal for those who require more stability and support when walking after surgery. Some walkers come with built-in chairs so that you can have a rest break around the house.
- Rollators: Rollators provide better ease of use as they feature wheels for a smoother journey. This is designed for those with limited upper body strength.
- Adjustable beds: Mobility beds are ideal for those recovering from surgery as they can be lifted and raised for comfort and to ease pain. This reduces physical strain, helping your recovery.
2. Preparing Your Home
Since you will be spending most, if not all, of your time at home during your recovery, you must make the necessary preparations beforehand.
Clear away furniture to make more room for wheelchairs, walkers, or canes, and place frequently used items within closer reach to you for convenience.
If you struggle to get up and down the stairs, ask for help with bringing your bed downstairs to prevent the risk of injury or falls. A bedside commode can also prevent the journey to the toilet.
Consider installing grab bars in areas of your home that you’ll use the most, such as bathrooms, kitchens, and bedrooms, for extra support during activities. A perch stool can also help you reach items without straining or rest during bathing.
3. Daily Living Aids
As you start to become more mobile during your recovery, living aids, such as long-handled shoe horns and bath sponges, can provide extra support during mundane tasks.
If you struggle to bend over or extend your arms, grabbers are a great way to retrieve items without straining or injuring yourself. If you’re bed-bound, these can be used to retrieve items from your bedside table.
For ease and efficiency when cooking, our food preparation includes a range of ergonomic can openers, easy-pour kettles, and more to make meal times more enjoyable and stress-free.
Our Ucello kettle tipper is ideal for those with limited upper body strength, as it eliminates the need for manual lifting and pouring.
4. Mental and Emotional Support
Recovering from surgery involves more than physical rest and support. Surgery can take a toll on our mental health, whether that be feelings of anxiety, stress, or depression.
It can be hard to adjust to the lack of activity and independence, so you must reach out to loved ones or seek professional help from a counsellor or therapist if you’re struggling.
To help yourself throughout the process, set realistic goals that you can feel accomplished to achieve and take the time to meditate, journal, or read, any activity that makes you feel calm.
Emotional support from your friends and family is important, so don’t be afraid to reach out to reduce feelings of isolation or ask for assistance with daily tasks.
Invest in Your Well-being with Millercare
At Millercare, we understand how difficult it can be to make a full recovery after surgery, especially without the necessary support.
That is why we offer a wide range of mobility aids and living aids to help you navigate the recovery process with confidence and ease.
Invest in your health and well-being with us today at Millercare.
