It's often best to recover from hip replacement surgery in a nursing home so you can receive physical therapy. Some nursing homes have special wings for patients coming from the hospital after surgery to undergo rehab. There are several advantages to recovering in a rehab wing as opposed to recovering at home. Here's a look at a few of them.

Convenience

Physical therapy is essential to your recovery when you have a hip replaced. You can go to an outpatient center for treatments, which is very unhandy when you have difficulty walking and feel weak from surgery. A physical therapist could come to your home, but it may be difficult to coordinate the visits with periods when you feel well enough to get the most benefit. When you stay in a nursing home, there is a physical therapy clinic under the same roof, so it is very convenient for you to take treatments. If you happen to be sick in the morning, your workout can be changed to later in the day with little problem. Plus, you'll be able to work at your own pace if you need long periods of rest between your exercises. This is something a therapist coming to your home may not be able to do since he or she needs to maintain a strict schedule to accommodate other patients.

Safety

Another big benefit of recovering in a nursing home is your safety. You'll have staff around all hours of the day to help you to the bathroom and assist you when you need to stand. If you're very wobbly, it may take two or three people to help you take your first steps or transfer to a chair. Another way you'll be safe is you'll have someone to monitor your medications. After surgery, you may feel woozy and disoriented for a few days. It will be hard to remember to take your medications on time. If you don't have someone living with you to take care of you, going to a nursing home for several days is the best way to make sure your medical conditions are taken care of properly while you recover. Also, when you stay in a nursing home, your meals will be prepared for you and someone will make sure you maintain good nutrition, which helps you heal from your surgery quicker.

Motivation

It's common to lose your motivation for exercise after you've had surgery. When it hurts every time you move, it is much easier to stay in bed than it is to get up and walk. At first, it takes great effort to get out of bed and stand. You'll gradually take more steps with each attempt, and it may all seem like too much effort and pain. Your physical therapist will constantly motivate you to push yourself to do as much as you can. This is important if you want a full and fast recovery from your surgery. Your therapist knows how much exercise is too much and when you need to be prodded to keep moving. Although you may resent being pushed at the time, you'll be glad you worked hard on your recovery when you're able to avoid complications and limited mobility that come from being too sedentary after surgery.

So if you think going to a nursing home for physical therapy after surgery is just something for old folks and you resist the idea, you should think about it differently. With motivation, supervision, and access to all the rehab equipment and staff you need, you can focus on your recovery and get on your feet much quicker.

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