Our Post-Surgery Services

Recovering at home after an operation can present unique challenges, especially when following strict medical orders. Many clients rely on the specialized services we provide for a safe recovery.

Knowing how crucial our services are to our clients is why we strive to make this care accessible to everyone. That’s why we offer multiple payment options.

These home care services may be covered by a variety of payment methods, including:

• The Pennsylvania Caregiver Support Program
• The Consumer Directed Personal Assistance Program (a Medicaid state program)
• Veteran benefits
• Select private insurance plans

Adherence to Surgical Restrictions

Following your doctor’s exact post-operative instructions is crucial for preventing complications. Our caregivers meticulously review your orders to ensure every directive is carefully followed.

These instructions may include:

• Mobility and weight-bearing restrictions: We assist with safe movement and actively manage limits on lifting, bending, twisting, or putting weight on a healing limb, protecting your surgical site.
• Dietary and hydration compliance: Our caregivers prepare meals based on doctor’s orders (high-protein diet for healing or high-fiber diet to prevent constipation) and actively encourage consistent hydration.
• Continuous reporting: Caregivers are the “eyes and ears” of the healthcare team, continuously monitoring your condition and immediately reporting any potential red flags.
• Coordinating appointments: We provide reliable, door-to-door transportation for follow-up doctor appointments and physical therapy sessions.

Specialized Hygiene Assistance

Our caregivers offer specialized hygiene assistance to clients recuperating after surgery, focusing on safety and the protection of the surgical site.

Some of this specific personal care includes:

• Incision protection: We use specific techniques and protective coverings to ensure surgical dressings remain completely dry during bathing.
• Water temperature safety: Caregivers check to ensure water temperature is safe to prevent burns or discomfort.
• Assessing the skin: We routinely inspect the skin during care to identify and report any signs of redness, sores, or blisters early on.
• Assisting with dressing and grooming: We help clients safely take on and off clothes while maintaining awareness of restrictions like casts or IV lines.

Pre-Emptive Discharge Planning and Setup

Our discharge planning focuses on preparing the home environment before your return. This crucial preparation prevents falls, reduces strain on the surgical site, and ensures you can safely follow the post-operative care plan.

The duties linked to discharge planning and setup include:

• Clearing pathways: We clear clutter, secure or remove throw rugs, and re-arrange furniture to easily accommodate a walker, cane, or wheelchair.
• Creating an accessibility zone: This is a primary recovery zone (usually located on the main floor) which includes the bed, a comfortable chair, and a clear path to the bathroom to minimize the need to use stairs.
• Stocking supplies: Caregivers double check to make sure there are enough medical supplies and personal care items in the home.
• Checking the equipment: Caregivers test durable medical equipment (hospital bed, wheelchair brakes, and other equipment tools) ensuring they’re working correctly.

Focused Positional Assistance and Repositioning

Positioning assistance is vital to a client’s physical recovery, helping to prevent major complications, such as pressure ulcers (bed sores), joint damage, or re-injury of the surgical site.

Some of these responsibilities include:

• Respecting the post-operation instructions: We avoid forbidden positions such as not bending past 90 degrees, crossing legs/ankles after hip surgery, and twisting/bending after spinal surgery. A common movement technique (especially for post-operation-surgery) is to move the client as a single unit without twisting the spine.
• Avoiding pressure ulcers: Caregivers reposition the patient at least every two hours (or as instructed), to relieve pressure on bony prominences (heels and hips).
• Using equipment: We safely use tools like draw sheets, slide sheets, pillows, and wedges to move and help the client be in the proper position without dragging the skin.
• Safe transfers: Using techniques like stand-pivot transfer or a gait belt (to help with walking), assisting the patient while protecting the client’s surgical incision and surrounding joints.

Who Benefits from Our Post-Surgery Services?

Our post-surgery services provide a safe and healthy recovery for our clients in Philadelphia:

Orthopedic patients: Caregivers help clients who have joint replacements (hip, knee, shoulder), spinal surgery, or extensive fracture repairs help with mobility limits and physical therapy compliance.

Cardiac/vascular patients: We’ll monitor the vital signs for patients recovering from bypass surgery, valve replacement, or pacemaker insertion.

Abdominal/Gastrointestinal patients: Caregivers will make sure patients, recovering from hysterectomies, colon resections, or appendectomies, are adhering to their doctors’ instructions.

Older adults recovering from surgery: Seniors, recuperating from surgery, need assistance preventing common hazards like falls.

The working family: We assist those families who aren’t able to provide 24/7 care for their loved ones due to jobs.

Why Choose Impactful Home Care?

Trained and Vetted Caregiving Professionals

We ensure our caregivers have clean backgrounds and receive the required training to provide the best services.

Personalized Plans to Fit Your Needs

You have unique needs. We get your input to build customized plans based on your needs, preferences, and routines.

Medicaid-Approved Assistance

You’ll be working with a Licensed and Medicaid Approved agency.

Companions Who Are Always There

Our caregivers provide the highest quality of care through compassion and open communication. They help keep loneliness and isolation at bay.

The 3-Step Process Is Easy

We’ve simplified the process for you, so you can get the help you need. Just follow these three steps:

1. Consultation: Give us a call for an evaluation. We’ll ask questions about your needs and situation.
2. Care Plan: With your input, we’ll create specialized plans outlining services, schedules, goals, and preferences.
3. Continuous Support: You can depend on our aides and their supervisors to provide you with consistent updates on your health, care plan, and services.

Families Trust Impactful Home Care

Commonly Asked Questions About Our Post-Surgery Services

Still have more questions? Read on. We’ve answered some of the most frequently asked questions for you.

What specific training do your caregivers receive regarding post-operative recovery and infection control?

Training usually focuses on hands-on assistance on how to help a patient with limited mobility and specific surgical restrictions.

This training can include:

• Surgical precautions and mobility: Instructions on how to monitor a client’s movement, mastering safe transfer techniques, and focused positional assistance.
• Wound and incision observation: Be vigilant in looking for warning signs and knowing how to recognize and report any increased redness, swelling, warmth, or unusually or excessive drainage around the surgical site infection.
• Observing side effects: Being familiar with the side effects and being trained to report concerning symptoms like difficulty breathing or severe constipation.
• Environmental asepsis: Training on maintaining a clean environment for the client. This includes proper techniques for cleaning high-touch surfaces and safely handling soiled linens to prevent cross-contamination in the home.

What are the agency’s policies regarding medication reminders versus administration (since this is non-medical care)?

At home care agencies, caregivers are allowed to verbally remind clients to take their medication, to bring the pre-sorted medication to them, and to document the client’s adherence.

However, caregivers aren’t allowed to physically handle, measure, or dispense the medication. Either the client or the licensed nurse must complete these duties.

How do caregivers assist with and document the client’s pain level throughout the day?

Caregivers typically ask clients to rate their pain on a pain rating scale (from 0 to 10), noting the time, activity, and non-verbal signs of discomfort. They also record any non-medical interventions provided and the effect on the pain level. Any significant or sudden pain increase is immediately reported to the supervising nurse for clinical intervention.

Can the caregiver assist with non-medical skin application (e.g., lotion)?

Yes. The caregiver is allowed to help with applying non-medical skin products like lotion and moisturizing creams as part of a standard personal care. We want to make sure the client’s skin is hydrated. However, the caregivers can’t apply products directly onto or near the surgical incision or open wounds.

How is the caregiver trained to handle a client who becomes dizzy or lightheaded while standing?

Caregivers prioritize the client’s immediate safety by safely lowering them to a chair or the floor through the gait belt or their own body to prevent falls. Once the client is safe on the chair or the floor, the caregiver stays with the client to make sure they’re comfortable and to monitor the client’s appearance and breathing. This event is also reported to the supervising nurse.

What is the specific protocol for setting up a “primary recovery zone” on the main floor, minimizing stair use?

Arranging a “primary recovery zone” involves setting up a no-stair area with easy access to a bathroom and kitchen for the client.

What is the difference between home care and home health care services?

Home care services provide assistance for non-medical needs (like specialized support) and are usually long-term care. Home health care services send licensed professionals to your home to provide medical services and are usually short-term and temporary.

What About Payment Options?

You can sit with our financial assistants to find out more about our options. These home care services may be covered by a variety of payment methods, including the Pennsylvania Caregiver Support Program, the Consumer Directed Personal Assistance Program (a Medicaid state program), veteran benefits, and select private insurance plan.

Serving Philadelphia and Surrounding Counties

Our Philadelphia home care services reach all of the city and the surrounding counties, from the city’s historic residential areas like Queen Village and Bella Vista to the rolling hills of Bucks County.

Philadelphia

Bucks County

Montgomery County

Delaware County

Chester County