As your parents begin to age, their medical care and any surgeries they may go through take a bigger toll on their bodies. As such, any surgery they go through and any medical care they may need will require you to step in and give them a hand. When it comes to joint replacement surgeries like a knee replacement, the recovery can be extensive when your parent is elderly and already has mobility issues. If your elderly parent is about to go through knee replacement surgery, you may find yourself wondering what you can do to help them with their recovery. Get to know some of the steps that you can take to ensure that their joint replacement recovery is smooth and successful.

De-Clutter the House

When your elderly parent comes home after their knee replacement surgery, they will have limited mobility for a time as their body heals and they get used to their new knee joint. What this means is that those tiny micro-movements that allow people to easily shift around objects on the floor or obstacles will be slower or may even be impossible at first.

As such, a cluttered home will present a particular challenge or danger for your parent as they try to navigate their home. Try to pick up clutter and move furniture and other objects out of the way so that there are clear and spacious paths from your parent's bedroom to the living room, kitchen, and bathroom as well as any other rooms they happen to spend much of their time in.

Set Them Up On the Main Floor of the House

In addition to getting rid of clutter, you want to eliminate the need for them to climb flights of stairs, at least for the first few weeks after their return home. This may mean you need to relocate their bedroom to the main floor of the house temporarily.

This may mean setting up a bed in the living room or dining room for a short period of time and can require some extensive planning and furniture moving. However, it could be dangerous for your parent to attempt stairs several times a day if you do not rearrange things.

Make Sure They Go to Rehab and Physical Therapy

Perhaps the best way that you can help your elderly parent to recovery from knee replacement surgery is to ensure that they attend all physical therapy sessions and go through the proper rehab process to ensure that their joint recovers fully and that they can walk and move properly. Offer to take them to physical therapy sessions and talk to the physical therapist about the activities and exercises they should be performing at home.

When your parent has "homework" from their physical therapist, do the exercises with them or offer your support and assistance as they attempt them. The more hands-on you are with the rehab and physical therapy process, the more likely they will be to stick to the program and recover as well as possible.

With these ideas in mind, you will better be able to help and care for your elderly parent as they are recovering from their knee replacement surgery. For more information, contact a doctor like Richmond Orthopedic Associate Inc.