Total-Joint-Arthroplasty-Guidebooks-2020

Arrange to Have Someone: • Take you home from the hospital around 11 AM on your day of discharge • Stay with you for the first week after you go home from the hospital • Help with house cleaning, chores, and laundry • Help with errands and groceries • Take you to your doctor’s office for follow-up visits • Care for a child, spouse, pet, or parent while you are in the hospital and after you are discharged from the hospital Prepare Your Bathroom • If your shower is a bathtub, you should have a safety seat without arms If you have a shower stall, you can use any safety seat • The seat should have feet with rubber tips to keep it from slipping • Some people find that a hand-held shower hose helps them out which are available at local home improvement stores • You will be instructed on the proper way to use a bench or seat in the shower while you are in the hospital. Consider having hand rails installed in your shower • Use of an elevated toilet seat with hand rails will help you maintain any hip precautions that you have and is also helpful for those who have knee replacements They can be purchased at a pharmacy or department drug store

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