Preparing your home
Heart surgery and how to prepare
Before you have your heart surgery, it is worth thinking about how you can make things easier for when you get home after your operation.
Here are a few suggestions that can help you prepare for everyday life after surgery.
Do
- Have a chair ready that is not too low and has arm supports.
- Remove any rugs that may cause you to trip or slip.
- Keep things that you use often close by.
- Prepare or purchase meals in advance.
- Arrange your sick leave and update your employer on your return to work plan. You should expect to be off work for at least 8 weeks after your surgery. It may be longer depending on your recovery and the type of work you do.
- Arrange for someone to look after any pets.
- Make sure you have enough supplies of any medicines that you take regularly.
- It’s a good idea to get your house, garden, finances and general affairs in order so that you don’t worry about them while you are recovering.
Help at home
Arrange someone to collect you from hospital. Transport can only be arranged in special circumstances and the wait can be long.
It is very important to have help for when you are back at home. Think about who can support you at your home after you are discharged from hospital. We recommend you have help for at least a week.
If you do not have support at home from friends or family, please tell the nurse practitioner as early as possible. Also talk to your GP about getting help at home.
If you will be recovering away from your usual address with family or family, remember to register with a temporary GP for any follow-up and access to district nurses.
Most people recover in their own home. If you are concerned about this and do not have anyone suitable to stay with you, please talk to your nurse before you leave hospital.
Resource number: 5454/VER1
Published date: December 2023
Review date: December 2026
