infoWhy this matters

Setting up your home before surgery makes your recovery easier when you come back, and a few simple changes help you avoid a fall. This lesson covers the common steps. Where your surgeon or therapist tells you something different, follow them.

homeRoom-by-room setup

1. Bedroom on the main floor. If you can, set up your bed on the floor where you will spend most of your day, so you use the stairs less. You may not need a hospital bed, but a firm mattress makes it easier to sit on the edge.
2. Remove trip hazards. Take up loose throw rugs, move cords out of the paths you walk, fix uneven flooring in doorways, and add night lights in dark halls and rooms.
3. Bathroom safety. Put in grab bars to help you get in and out of the tub and stand up; towel racks cannot hold your weight. A raised toilet seat lets you sit higher, so you bend less. Sit on a shower chair, with non-slip mats in the tub.
4. Essentials within reach. Set up a recovery station: phone charger, medications, water, TV remote, and reading material all at arm's level without bending.
5. Pets and children. Small pets that move around can trip you, so for the first few weeks consider having a pet stay elsewhere. Ask children not to jump on you while you heal.
6. Your help network. Line up help at home for the first week or two: bathing, meals, errands, and rides to visits. If no one can help, ask your surgeon about a trained caregiver.

shopping_cartEquipment checklist

helpQuestions about home prep?