After a surgical procedure, post-operative care is essential to ensure the patient recovers quickly and without complications. Post-operative care involves a range of activities aimed at providing the patient with the support and care needed to help them regain their strength and mobility. Proper post-operative care can help reduce the risk of complications, speed up recovery time, and improve the patient's quality of life.

Here's how to prepare for Postoperative care at Home.

Managing Emotional Health and Wellbeing

After a surgery, it is important to prioritise not only your physical recovery but also emotional health and wellbeing. Surgery can be a stressful and traumatic experience, and it is normal to experience a range of emotions during the recovery process. Here are some tips for managing emotional health and wellbeing after surgery.

Coping with Post Operative Stress

Postoperative stress is common in patients, and it can result from a variety of factors such as fear of complications, acquiring permanent disabilities, pain, or uncertainty about the future. To cope with postoperative stress, it is important to practise self-care techniques such as deep breathing exercises, meditation, and mindfulness. These can help reduce anxiety and promote relaxation. 

It is also important to stay connected with loved ones and talk about your feelings with them. This can help you process your emotions and reduce feelings of isolation.

Dealing with Depression and Anxiety

Depression and anxiety are common emotional reactions after surgery. It is important to recognize the signs and symptoms of these conditions and seek professional help if necessary. Symptoms of depression include feelings of sadness, hopelessness, loss of interest in activities, changes in appetite or sleep patterns, and difficulty concentrating. Symptoms of anxiety include excessive worry, restlessness, irritability, and panic attacks. If you experience any of these symptoms, it is important to talk to your healthcare provider about getting help.

Seeking Support and Counseling Services

Seeking support and counselling services can be an effective way to manage emotional health and wellbeing after surgery. Many hospitals and community care services offer support for patients and families, as well as counselling services with licensed therapists. These services can provide a safe and supportive environment to discuss your feelings and receive guidance on how to cope with emotional challenges.

Improving Postoperative Care

Promoting Patient and Caregiver Education

Patient and caregiver education is an essential component of improving post-operative care. Involving patients in care planning helps to ensure that they have a good understanding of their recovery process and what to expect. 

Signs and Symptoms of Infections or Complications

Patients who have undergone surgery are at higher risk of developing infections or other related complications. Patients should be informed of these symptoms so they can recognize them early and seek medical attention at the right time whenever necessary. Signs of infections can include fever, redness, swelling, and pain around the incision site. Other symptoms may include coughing, shortness of breath, or difficulty breathing. 

Adopting a Proactive Care Approach

Following a proactive approach, patients and caregivers should be encouraged to take a more active role in the care process. This can include communicating with their healthcare provider regularly, following a healthy diet, and engaging in physical activity as appropriate. By taking a proactive approach, patients can improve their outcomes and reduce their risk of complications.

Understand why Preventive Care for Older Adults is key to their good health

Simplified Medication Instructions

When discharged, patients often come home with multiple medications prescribed, and it can be difficult to keep track of them all. By simplifying medication instructions, patients are more likely to take their medication correctly and avoid potential drug interactions or side effects.

Post Operative Care and PCL Connect

In recent years, there has been an increasing trend towards integrating technology into post-operative care for patients. The use of Connected care and remote health monitoring is revolutionary for the way people receive care, and enables delivery of better care and improved health outcomes. In this regard, here's how PCL Connect can support postoperative care for elderly

Remote Health Monitoring

With remote health monitoring, patients can receive care from the comfort of their own homes, and care providers can monitor their progress remotely. Coupled with the PCL wellness watch and other connected devices, vital health signs such as heart rate, blood pressure, temperature and oxygen levels can be easily tracked and monitored by family or other care providers. Alongside, it can also capture other biomarkers such as sleep and steps (activity) for a holistic health monitoring. This way interventions can be made at the right time and only when required. 

Reduce Social isolation and loneliness

Many elderly and disabled individuals suffer from stress, depression, social isolation and loneliness. PCL Connect offers a solution to this problem through voice calling and a digital photo album. Patients can connect with their loved ones through voice calls and share photos with them using the digital photo album. These features help to improve the mental and emotional well-being of patients, reducing the risk of depression and anxiety.

Tracking Vital Health Signs

Tracking vital health signs is critical in post-operative care because it allows healthcare providers to identify potential complications and intervene early. With PCL Connect technology, healthcare providers can track vital health signs in real-time and use the data to make informed decisions about patient care. This can also help to reduce the risk of readmissions and improve patient outcomes.

Medication Reminders

The medication reminder feature ensures that individuals receive their medication on time, reducing the risk of missed doses. Since all the caregivers get relevant information and can communicate with each other based on that whenever needed, this ensures better care coordination. Ultimately it helps to streamline the caregiving process, and make it more efficient.

There are other custom reminders that can be used to plan simple things through the day - such as therapy sessions, meals and carer visits.

Connected Care

Connected care involves integrating all aspects of healthcare into a single platform. It involves connecting patients, healthcare providers, and medical devices to create a seamless healthcare experience. PCL Connect's Connected care has the potential to revolutionise post-operative care by enabling healthcare providers to monitor patients remotely, track vital health signs, and intervene when necessary.

Proactive Care

The PCL caregiver app allows family members to monitor their loved ones' care from a distance. The app provides real-time updates on their health vitals, medication reminders and appointment schedules. Family members can also communicate with the care providers and receive updates on their loved one's health status. The PCL caregiver app helps to improve oversight, ensuring that patients receive the best possible care.

Conclusion

Improving post-operative care is essential for promoting patient recovery and reducing the risk of complications. By promoting patient and caregiver education, adopting a proactive care approach, and technologies like PCL Connect, patients can have a smoother recovery process and improved outcomes.