Post-op care

Preparing your home for recovery after surgery

A short checklist for the first days back home, from medication and wound care to who to call.

Before discharge, ask the hospital team for a written plan covering medication times, wound care, warning signs to watch for, and follow-up appointments. Keep it somewhere visible at home.

Set up a comfortable space on one level if stairs are difficult, with water, a phone and essentials within reach. Arrange for help with meals, bathing and transport for the first week or two.

Post-op home care can take the pressure off family members by monitoring vital signs, managing pain and supporting wound care, so recovery stays on track and the person feels supported rather than rushed.