Did a doctor recommend surgery for your family member? Perhaps this is for a hip or knee replacement, heart bypass, or other type of surgery. Many older adults (people age 65 or over) have surgery. It may be inpatient surgery that includes at least one night in the hospital. Or it may be outpatient or “same-day” surgery, when patients go home after spending some time in the recovery room.
There always are risks with surgery. Often, these risks have to do with anesthesia and infection. For older adults, there are extra concerns. Here are some ways that you, as the family caregiver, can help.
Learn more about making the hospital experience as stress-free as possible in the Next Step in Care guide Hospital Admission: How to Plan and What to Expect During the Stay.
Many people find it confusing to deal with surgery bills. This includes surgeon’s fees as well as other bills for hospital and health care services. Be aware that usually the anesthesiologist will bill separately. Make sure you know what Medicare or other health insurance will pay for. You can learn more about Medicare.
Is your family member’s “advance directive” up to date, and does it name someone as his or her “health care proxy”? Has that person reviewed the advance directive and your family member’s wishes with him/her? Learn more about these important legal papers in Next Step in Care’s Advance Directives: A Family Caregiver’s Guide.
The American College of Surgeons National Surgical Quality Improvement Program and the American Geriatrics Society recently developed a “best practices” guideline for surgeons and their staff to use when assessing older patients before surgery (1). These guidelines should be used along with a complete medical history and physical examination.
Surgery can improve your family member’s health and quality of life. But it can also be stressful. A good way to help is by asking questions and making plans for surgery and follow-up care.
1 The checklist questions in this guide have been adapted, with permission, from Warren B. Chow, Ronnie A. Rosenthal, Ryan P Merkow, et al., “Optimal Preoperative Assessment of the Geriatric Surgical Patient: A Best Practices Guideline from the American College of Surgeons National Surgical Quality Improvement Program and the American Geriatric Society,” Journal of the American College of Surgeons, 2012; 215(4): 453-466.
©2013 United Hospital Fund