What Help Will You Need at Home After Hip or Knee Replacement?

After hip or knee replacement, everyday tasks can take more effort than expected. Getting dressed, preparing breakfast, or stepping into the shower may require extra time and support.

You may need help with personal care, meals, household chores, transportation, and following your recovery routine. The amount of assistance depends on your surgery, mobility, overall health, and home setup. Planning support before discharge can make the transition home easier. NIAMS

Here is what to consider when arranging home care after hip or knee replacement.

Help With Walking and Moving Around

Your healthcare team will assess whether you can move safely before you leave the hospital. However, being ready to go home does not mean you are ready to manage every household task.

You may still need someone nearby during your first walks or help carrying items while using a walking aid. Before discharge, ask your physiotherapist to explain how to manage stairs and get in and out of furniture safely.

Keep using your prescribed walker or crutches until your healthcare team says you can progress. A family member or caregiver should follow the techniques taught by your team rather than trying to lift or pull you into position. myhealth.alberta.ca

Support With Bathing, Dressing, and Toileting

Personal care can be challenging when reaching your feet or bending your leg is uncomfortable. You may need assistance with:

• Putting on trousers, socks, and shoes
• Getting into and out of the shower
• Washing areas you cannot comfortably reach
• Managing clothing when using the toilet

Equipment such as a sock aid, long-handled shoehorn, shower chair, or raised toilet seat may help. Ask your care team which items suit your needs and how to use them.

Follow your surgeon’s instructions about when you can shower and how to protect your dressing. Hip and knee replacement precautions can differ, so avoid relying on someone else’s recovery instructions. myhealth.alberta.ca

Support should also respect your privacy. Explain which tasks you would like help with and which you prefer to do yourself.

Assistance With Meals and Household Tasks

During early recovery, arranging help with cooking, shopping, and laundry can reduce the demands of running your home. Preparing suitable meals in advance is another practical option. NIAMS

Think through a typical day and identify who will handle each job. For example, one person might collect groceries while another brings dinner or takes care of the laundry.

Other tasks to plan for include:

• Washing dishes and taking out rubbish
• Changing bedding
• Looking after pets
• Collecting deliveries
• Keeping frequently used items within reach

A clear plan is more useful than a general offer to “help whenever needed.” Agree on specific tasks and times before surgery where possible.

Help Following Your Medication and Care Plan

Your discharge instructions will explain how to take prescribed medicines and care for your incision. If you are prescribed blood thinners, follow those instructions carefully and ask your pharmacist or surgical team before adding other medicines.

A family member can help collect prescriptions, keep instructions organized, and record questions for your healthcare team.

If you need assistance with dressing changes or other clinical tasks, confirm who will provide that care. Follow the instructions you were given rather than changing or removing dressings on your own. discharge : MedlinePlus Medical Encyclopedia

Encouragement With Your Prescribed Exercises

Recovery includes a balance of movement and rest. Your physiotherapist will provide exercises and guidance suited to your operation and progress.

A support person can help you remember your routine, keep your exercise instructions nearby, and accompany you on walks when advised. They should not introduce new exercises or push you beyond your prescribed plan.

For knee replacement recovery, Alberta guidance recommends short, manageable walks and continued use of walking aids until the healthcare team advises otherwise. myhealth.alberta.ca

Transportation to Follow-Up Appointments

Arrange a ride home from hospital and transportation to follow-up appointments or physiotherapy. Ask your surgeon when it will be safe to drive again. NIAMS

Keep appointment details in one place, including the address, time, and contact number. If someone accompanies you, ask them to help note any updated instructions—with your permission.

How Long Will You Need Help at Home?

There is no single timeline for everyone. Planning practical support for the first one or two weeks is a useful starting point, but some people need assistance for longer. Your healthcare team can help estimate your needs. NIAMS

Review the arrangement as you recover. You may become comfortable getting dressed independently while still needing help with groceries, laundry, or transport.

Can You Recover at Home if You Live Alone?

Living alone makes planning especially important. Tell your healthcare team before surgery so they can assess whether your home and available support will meet your needs.

Discuss how you will manage meals, personal care, medicines, and getting help between visits. Some people can recover at home with appropriate arrangements; others may need additional rehabilitation or a different discharge plan. NIAMS

Consider keeping a phone within reach and arranging regular check-ins. Be clear about who to contact if your usual helper is unavailable.

Know When to Get Medical Help

Follow the warning signs in your discharge instructions. Seek prompt medical advice for concerning changes such as increasing incision redness or drainage, fever, new calf pain or swelling, or sudden difficulty putting weight on the operated leg.

Call 911 for chest pain or trouble breathing. If you cannot reach your surgical team for other concerns, contact your family doctor or Health Link at 811 in Alberta. myhealth.alberta.ca

Home Care After Hip or Knee Replacement in Calgary

Before your operation, consider where family support is available and where you may need additional assistance.

Contact C-Nurses Homecare Agency to discuss post-operative home care in Calgary. Share your expected discharge date, daily support needs, and healthcare team’s instructions so you can discuss suitable care arrangements.

This article provides general information. Follow your surgeon’s and physiotherapist’s instructions for your individual recovery.