After-surgery home care
Discover how after-surgery home care helps your loved one recover safely and comfortably at home with tailored nursing, allied health therapy and care worker support.
Scroll to Explore
14 October 2025
Stories
| Home Care
Download this article as a PDF.
Supporting a loved one’s post-surgery care can be rewarding and challenging. There’s medication to manage, appointments to keep and practical help needed around the home. But you don’t have to manage it all on your own. Help is at hand.
In this article:
- Understand the post-surgery support your loved one needs after surgery
- Discover how home care services can provide that support
- Learn how to plan and prepare for a smooth return home
When your loved one leaves hospital, their doctor or medical team will provide them with some instructions to follow at home. These might include how to care for a wound, manage medication, and guidance on when it’s safe to move around again. Following these directions carefully is one of the most important ways to aid recovery and reduce the risk of complications. After-surgery home care services offer support to help make that easier.
Understanding after-surgery home care
After-surgery home care services, or after-hospital home care, provide professional support in the comfort of home to help your loved one recover safely and comfortably after leaving hospital. Delivered by enrolled and registered nurses, allied health specialists and care workers, it includes both clinical support and practical help – from wound care and medication management to support with mobility and daily routines. It offers the care and encouragement your loved one needs to regain strength and confidence.
Types of post-surgery care services
After-surgery home care services typically include a mix of nursing, allied health and practical support tailored to individual recovery needs.
Post-surgery treatment
Nurses can help with wound care, dressing changes, injections and medication management, while offering reassurance and support every step of the way. They can also identify early signs of complications so your loved one can get help quickly if needed.
Allied health professionals can also help with post-surgery care, particularly if your loved one has had an operation involving limbs or joints. Physiotherapists can help them rebuild strength, balance and mobility, while occupational therapists can assess the home, recommend practical changes or adaptive equipment like grab rails or shower chairs and teach strategies to make everyday tasks easier and restore confidence.
Daily assistance
Even simple tasks can feel harder than usual in the first few weeks after surgery. Care workers provide gentle, practical support with daily activities such as showering, dressing and grooming. They can help with household tasks like laundry, cleaning, and shopping and accompany your loved one to appointments. Care workers can also help your loved one move about safely, preventing falls and rebuilding confidence.
Continuous care for a smoother recovery
With ongoing visits from care workers, enrolled and registered nurses and allied health professionals, your loved one can regain strength and mobility at their own pace. This coordinated approach supports a quicker return to independence. At BaptistCare at home, we bring these supports together so recovery feels seamless, coordinated and centred on living well.
Emotional support
Recovery after surgery isn’t just about physical healing – emotional and spiritual wellbeing matter too.
We recognise the importance of staying connected and feeling cared for during recovery. Our care workers can provide companionship and encouragement through conversation, reading together, or sharing a cup of tea. We also have a pastoral care team who can provide spiritual support and comfort or simply lend a listening ear.
Caring for someone recovering from surgery can be demanding. Remember to look after yourself, too – taking a short break, accepting help, or accessing respite care can make a real difference to your own wellbeing and energy.
If your loved one is living with dementia, BaptistCare offers Refresh Retreats and the Stronger Carers program.
Refresh Retreats are held over three days in peaceful locations across NSW, the ACT and WA, offering education, support and respite for carers and their loved ones. Stronger Carers is a one-to-one coaching program designed to support and empower carers of people living with dementia in the ACT.
Transition care
BaptistCare also offers Transition Care in the ACT and on the Central Coast, NSW. This short-term program supports older people after a hospital stay, often in their own homes but sometimes in a temporary care setting. It brings together nursing, therapy and personal support to help people regain strength and independence before moving into the next stage of recovery.
Benefits of after-surgery home care
A well-planned after-surgery home care approach makes recovery safer, more comfortable and less stressful for your loved one and for you.
Manage post-surgery effects and promote recovery
Post-surgery care includes managing side effects like pain, nausea, or tiredness. Having nurses visit means these symptoms can be monitored and managed early. Wound checks, medication support and clinical care reduce the risk of complications and offer peace of mind.
Help with everyday tasks
By helping with daily routines – from personal care to light household duties – home care services allow your loved one to rest and focus on healing, while easing pressure on those caring for them.
How to arrange after-surgery home care
If a hospital stay or surgery is planned, a little preparation can go a long way. Thinking ahead before the operation and knowing what to do afterwards helps create a smoother recovery.
Before surgery
- Talk to your loved one’s doctor or hospital team about what recovery might involve and how long it could take.
- Start exploring home care services. Contact BaptistCare at home to discuss short-term support such as nursing, personal care, help with meals and cleaning and whether your loved one might need mobility aids or home modifications.
- Prepare. Make sure your loved one has a comfortable bed and a calm place to rest and relax. Walkways should be clear, lighting bright, and stairs and bathrooms safe and accessible.
- Arrange transport for discharge and follow-up appointments.
- Stock up on essentials such as easy meals and groceries.
After surgery
- Follow the doctor’s instructions carefully for wound care, medications and when it is safe to move around.
- Confirm home care services arrangements and let your BaptistCare at home team know the discharge date so services can begin right away.
- Double-check comfort and safety at home.
- Keep track of appointments and medication with a simple chart or notebook.
Essential home modifications
Making simple changes can make recovery after surgery much safer and easier. A well-set-up space helps your loved one move about confidently and reduces the risk of falls or strain.
At BaptistCare at home, we can help assess and coordinate assistive equipment and home modifications to make sure your loved one’s space is safe and supports their recovery. Our occupational therapists provide personalised advice to ensure every change promotes mobility, comfort and confidence and is well-suited to the home environment and individual needs.
Things to think about
- Bathroom and toilet: Grab rails near the shower and toilet, a raised toilet seat, non-slip mats and a shower chair can make bathing and toileting safer and easier.
- Bedroom and hallways: Keep pathways clear of clutter and cords, use non-slip rugs and add night lights for safe movement.
- Kitchen: Store everyday items at waist height and consider a sturdy chair for seated meal prep.
- Living room: Choose stable seating that’s not too low so standing up is easier.
- Entryways and verandas: Check that surfaces are even and well-lit. Consider whether ramps or handrails are needed.
- Lighting and power: Ensure switches and power points are easy to reach, and that phones or call bells are close at hand.
Setting up a comfortable recovery space
A thoughtfully prepared space can make recovery more comfortable. At BaptistCare at home, our care workers, nurses and allied health professionals can help you create a safe, supportive environment where your loved one can heal well at home.
Things to think about
- Choose a spot on one level, close to a bathroom and away from stairs.
- Make sure the bed height is easy to get in and out of and use extra pillows for comfort.
- Keep essentials like water, medications, tissues and a phone within easy reach.
- Include a supportive chair nearby for daytime rest.
- Clear pathways between the bed, bathroom and living area.
- Use good lighting and ventilation.
- Add personal touches such as photos, music or a favourite blanket to make the space feel comforting and familiar.
Choosing BaptistCare for after-surgery home care
At BaptistCare at home, we bring together a trusted team of professionals who understand the importance of feeling safe, cared for, comfortable and confident during recovery.
Our services – nursing, allied health, personal care services, transport and home modifications – are all coordinated through one caring team. This means your loved one receives consistent, reliable help tailored to their recovery, without the stress of managing multiple providers.
From wound care and rehabilitation exercises to daily assistance or a friendly chat, our focus is always on helping people live well.
Ready to help your loved one recover well?
Recovering from surgery takes time, patience and the right kind of support. With professional home care services from BaptistCare at home, your loved one can focus on healing while you can feel confident that they’re receiving tailored, compassionate care in the place they know best. Home.
Learn more about how BaptistCare at home can support recovery after surgery – visit baptistcare.org.au/home-care or call us on 1300 275 227.