Knee and Hip Replacement Care

Here at Joyful Care, we understand that the rehabilitation process following knee or hip replacement surgery can be a demanding time that requires commitment and support. When it comes to knee and hip replacement aftercare, the first four to six weeks after the operation is when you’ll need the most support. Caring for a friend or family member can take its toll, especially when families are not close by. This is where your knee and hip support carers can help.

With the help of your carer, you can help provide hip and knee replacement aftercare on a short- or long-term basis. Live in Carers can assist with all manner of everyday tasks that might prove difficult following surgery, such as cooking, bathing, shopping, and keeping the home clean and safe but they’re also on hand to help you get out and about. A live in carer can help you make the most of every moment, regardless of which stage you are at in your recovery.

As part of your hip or knee replacement aftercare, you may also be enrolled on an exercise programme. Your carer should be able to work with you to increase your Range of Movement (ROM) and the strength of your leg muscles, supporting you with encouragement to weight bear and mobilise as directed by your physiotherapist.

• Many people find that the time leading up to surgery has resulted in their knee muscles feeling weaker than when it was a fully functioning joint. It is also clinically important to return the quadricep and hamstring muscles to full strength after a knee replacement, as they act to help stabilise the joint as well as providing vital balancing information to the brain (known as proprioception). By returning the joint to full flexibility and strength, the risk of falls reduces, and confidence returns.

As part of your post-surgery hip or knee replacement you should be prescribed a set of exercises specific to the procedure used and your needs. They may include weight bearing exercises and other exercises either in lying, sitting, or standing positions. If you choose home care after hip replacement surgery your live in carers should be able to work with you, every day or as prescribed, to make sure that you have the best chance of a full recovery in the window of rehabilitation that follows when you are back in your own home.

If all goes well, you could be home in as little as three days following your surgery. If you’re considering home care after knee replacement surgery, we recommend that you speak to us as soon as you can, so that we can be ready for your discharge and prepare the ideal carer for your return to being an independent person – living in your own home.