Plan, plan, plan. If your surgery is elective (scheduled vs. emergency), you have time. Look to your loved ones (you will be there for them), but know the names and contact information of professionals.
Practice. Set up your home to make it convenient for your temporarily- incapacitated self. Pretend you had the surgery and get into bed, go to the bathroom, eat. Make sure you know how you will get your medications. Meal preparation is often a major concern, so fill your freezer with things you might enjoy, and make sure they are something you can easily manage. Microwave anyone?
Check out Medicare’s Discharge Planning Checklist here.
Medicare will cover post-surgical care at home but only with a doctor’s order. This includes nursing, physical therapy, occupational therapy, speech therapy and an aide. Medicare will reimburse for approximately 45 minutes, 2 times a week. Laundry, shopping, errands and other custodial but important services are not covered by insurance and are “Fee for Service” from a Home Care Agency.
When your surgery is an emergency, you need to have thought this out before you are caught off-guard. In addition to the tips above, all of us should be organizing ourselves for that rainy day, and hope we never need to worry about it. Where are your important documents such as insurance policies, the deed to your home, bank and investment statements? Who will take care of your cat if you have an emergency? Who will take care of you?
You might want to check out a Penn’s Village Silver Binder workshop to get you started on what may seem like an intimidating task: organizing the vital details about your contacts as well as about your legal, health, and financial affairs. Stay tuned for the date of our next workshop.
My best advice is to make sure you let someone help you. Heroism is not your friend in this situation.
Mindy Mozenter is the Community Outreach Manager at Home Instead Senior Care, and a Board Member of Penn’s Village. She is celebrating a special milestone birthday on September 15 and is celebrating all month.