Supporting Your Loved One Through Their Surgical Procedure

4 Tips for Caring for a Loved One Recovering From Surgery

Whether it’s your spouse, friend, or family member that is preparing for surgery, it can be difficult to know how to best support them. Here are a few tips on how you can help your loved one through their surgery and recovery:

1. Be there for them emotionally.

Whether your loved one is going through surgery due to cancer, an accident, or other health concern, this is a tough time, and they may be feeling scared or anxious about the surgery. Let them know that you are there for them and offer emotional support.

2. Help with practical tasks.

There may be some things that your loved one cannot do while they are recovering from surgery. Offer to help with tasks such as grocery shopping, cooking, or cleaning. This will allow them to heal properly without disturbing stitches, drains, and the surgical area.

3. Be patient.

It will take some time for your loved one to recover from surgery, and in the best-case scenario, they will have no complications. Be patient with them, and don’t expect them to be back to their normal self immediately.

4. Help them stay positive.

Surgery can be a difficult experience, but it can also be frustrating for patients recovering. Therefore, it is important to focus on the positive. Help your loved ones stay positive by reminding them of all the people who are rooting for their success. You can also call out changes in their mobility that help them see that they are making progress toward recovery.

Surgical Care in Jackson Hole

By following these tips, you can help make the surgery and recovery process a little easier for your loved one. If you need assistance post-op, our team at St. John's Health is here to help. Learn more about our surgical program online today.