• Make sure there is a clear passageway around your home
• Removal loose mats/rugs from the floor
• Make sure there are no electrical cords lying across the floor
• Use a firm chair with arms- makes sure it is not too low.

Transport

• Allow plenty of room and sit in the front seat.
• Ask your physiotherapist to show you the correct and easiest way of getting in and out of the car
• Ask your doctor first before driving

Sexual activity

• Let your partner take an active role
• You may find some positions more comfortable than others due to the discomfort of your wound

Rest

• Plan to have frequent rest breaks

Leisure

• Avoid kneeling to perform leisure activities
• Your physiotherapist will discuss your leisure activities with you and provide advice regarding safe resumption.

Showering

• A shower is preferable to a bath because it is easier to get in and out If you have a shower over the bath, you may need to use a bath board and a hand held shower
• This can be arranged if necessary
• Sit down to shower
• Always use a non -slip mat
• Don't use a tap or soap holder to hold onto as they may be slippery and are not strong enough
• Use soap on a rope or soap in a stocking to save picking dropped soap

Dressing

• Sit down to get dressed
• A long handled shoehorn will help you to put shoes on
• A sock gutter will help you to put socks on
• Avoid crossing your legs
• An easy reached or long handled BBO tongs will help you to pick up objects off the floor

Household tasks

• Avoid putting things on the floor, put them on a bench or table
• Use long handled aids such as BBQ Tongs
• Avoid bending and lifting, store items used daily on a bench or at waist height.
• Plan to do small tasks each day and not everything in one day

Washing

• Wash in small quantities
• Use a trolley instead of carrying the basket
• Keep pegs at working height

Ironing

• Use an ironing board
• Sit on a stool

Bed making

• Have your bed moved from the wall for easy access
• Use fitted sheets and continental quits if available
• Avoid extension and hip flexion when tucking in sheets and blankets. If you or your families have any concerns about managing at home after your operation, please discuss these with your nurse or physiotherapist

Driving

• You can resume driving following advice from your surgeon.
• Depending on your type of surgery this could be between 2- 4 weeks.

Home safety checklist

After surgery, you'll have special needs. You'll need to be careful getting around your home you'll need to prevent accidents. Read each item in this checklist carefully. Correct any items you think are problems in your home. Remember, only you can prevent accidents that prolong your recovery.

Walking

• Remove throw rugs whenever possible to avoid tripping
• If you can't remove throw rugs, use rugs with non skid backing to avoid slipping
• Make the transition between types of flooring as even and
• ecuring as possible to prevent tripping

Stairs

• The rise between steps should ideally be no more than 5 inches/15cm
• Make sure handrails are well -anchored on both sides of the stairway
• Non skid treads can be placed on wooden stairs to prevent slipping
• Make sure carpeting on stairs is secure

Furniture layout

• Arrange furniture so that pathway are not cluttered
• Chairs and tables need to be study and stable enough to support a person leaning on them
• Avoid furniture with sharp edges and corners. If furniture's does have sharp edges or corners, pad it.
• Chairs with arm rests and high backs provide more support when sitting and more leverage when getting in and out of a chair
• Bed/chairs should be 19-21 inches/47-53cm from the floor

Lighting

• Be sure that your lighting is ample to prevent falls and assure that you can Read medication [abet and instruction easily
• Light switches should be immediately accessible upon a room
• Good lighting for hallways, stairs and bathroom is especially important

Sliding glass doors

• Mark sliding glass doors with stickers to prevent someone from walking through them.

Bathroom safety

Toilet

• Use an elevated toilet seat or commode to ease getting on and off the toilet
• Install grab bars around the toilet if you need more support getting on and off of the toilet

Bath

• Install skid-resistant strips or a rubber mat
• Use a bath seat if it is difficult to stand during a shower or too difficult to get up out of the bath
• Install grab bars on the side of the bath or shower for balance
• Install hand-held shower
• Do not use the soap dish or towel bar for balance as these can easily pull out of the wall
• Remove sliding shower door

Doors