Post-Surgery Care at Home: A Practical Recovery Checklist for Families

Discharge day feels like the finish line — but surgeons will tell you it's halftime. The first two to six weeks at home largely decide how well an operation pays off. In Nepal, that responsibility usually lands on family members with no medical training, a photocopied discharge sheet, and a lot of anxiety.

This checklist turns that anxiety into a plan.

Medical note: Your surgeon's discharge instructions always override any general guide, including this one. When in doubt, call your hospital.

Before You Leave the Hospital

[ ] Understand every medication — what each one is for, dose, timing, with/without food, and for how long. Ask the nurse to write it clearly.

[ ] Ask about wound care specifics — when the dressing gets changed, whether the wound can get wet, and who removes stitches/staples and when.

[ ] Get the follow-up date in writing and know exactly which department to return to.

[ ] Ask "what would bring us back to emergency?" — make the surgeon name the red flags for this specific surgery.

Setting Up the Home

[ ] A bed the patient can get in and out of without climbing stairs, ideally near a bathroom.

[ ] Clear walking paths — remove loose rugs and cables (falls are the classic post-surgery setback, especially for elderly patients).

[ ] A medicine chart on the wall: name, dose, time, tick-boxes. Simple beats clever.

[ ] A notebook for daily notes: temperature, pain level, wound appearance, appetite. Patterns beat memories at the follow-up visit.

The Daily Rhythm

[ ] Medications exactly on schedule — especially antibiotics: complete the full course even when the patient feels fine.

[ ] Wound checks at dressing changes — clean hands first, always.

] **Movement as prescribed** — most recoveries need *gentle, regular* movement, not bed rest; this is where [home physiotherapy makes a measurable difference for joint, spine, and cardiac surgeries.

[ ] Food and fluids — protein supports tissue healing; follow any specific dietary instructions from the surgical team.

Red Flags — Seek Medical Help Promptly

Fever, or chills/shivering

The wound becoming more red, swollen, hot, or leaking discharge — or its edges opening

Pain that is *increasing* after initially improving

Calf pain or swelling in one leg, breathlessness, or chest pain — treat as urgent

Persistent vomiting, no urination, or new confusion (especially in elderly patients)

Don't "wait and watch" these. Call your hospital, or have a doctor come to you if travel is difficult.

When Professional Home Nursing Makes Sense

Families manage a lot — but some tasks belong to a licensed nurse: sterile wound dressing, injections, catheter and drain care, monitoring after major surgery. A nurse visiting daily (or staying, for bigger recoveries) also trains the family in what "normal healing" looks like, which quietly removes most of the fear.

Many families pair nursing visits with a trained caregiver for the day-to-day — bathing, meals, mobility — especially for elderly patients or when children coordinating care live abroad (here's how that works). Our post-surgery care service can start the day of discharge, so recovery at home begins with professional support from hour one.

Frequently Asked Questions

How soon after discharge can home nursing start? Same day — booking before discharge means the nurse is ready when the patient arrives home.

Do we need a nurse full-time? Usually not. Many recoveries need a daily visit for dressing and monitoring, with family or a caregiver handling the rest. The right mix depends on the surgery — ask for an honest assessment.

Can the nurse coordinate with our surgeon? Yes — visit notes and observations are shared with the family, and any concerns are escalated to your treating doctor or a home-visit doctor.

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*Bringing someone home from surgery? Arrange post-surgery nursing before discharge day — professional care from the first hour home.*