It has been nearly four weeks since my father received a full anterior hip replacement, and he is doing so incredibly well! A lot of this has to do with the fact that he is a very healthy and active 53-year-old man, and that his body is able to withstand physical stress better than an older patient.
However, when my grandmother received her knee replacements, it was a bit of a different story. Her body was a little more worn down from decades of running around, chasing after all her kids and grandchildren. So, when it came time to discuss post-surgery care, we decided that skilled care nursing facilities would be the best option.
My grandmother really enjoyed her time in the skilled nursing care facility that she chose. The nursing home activities were fun and engaging ways to pass the time and meet new people also living in the nursing home, for either temporary or permanent living situations. She even met a few couple who lived there together, because some skilled care nursing facilities allow for married couples to room together and live as they normally would in their own home, but with some extra care taken for their health and well being. Other friends of hers who lived in senior living facilities came to visit, and were really impressed with the high level of medical care being maintained.
What both my dad and my grandma had in common with their surgeries was that they both received physical therapy—a standard part of the day in skilled care nursing facilities. Physical therapy is used as a means of stably helping the body recover from a surgery, injury, or other form of trauma. Physical therapy, especially when provided via skilled care nursing facilities, is a means to make life as manageable and pain free. The therapists will help to improve strength, flexibility, and balance in a number of ways so that things can get back to normal.
These wonderful physical therapy treatments and pleasant accommodations are available in many high-rated skilled care nursing facilities. Make sure to look into nursing home ratings and consider skilled nursing care at home.
