Your dad is going in for gallbladder surgery, and you’re not sure what happens next. He had gallstones that were impacting his health, so the decision was to remove his gallbladder. What happens when he comes home from the hospital? Would he benefit from the services of skilled nursing care providers?
Incision and Wound Care
Wound care is an important part of skilled nursing care. After his surgery, your dad is going to have incisions that need to be kept clean and bandaged. If he cannot do that for himself, he needs a nurse to help.
Depending on which type of surgery he had, he might have stitches, staples, or surgical glue and Steri-strips. If he has glue and tape strips, he has to keep the incisions dry. If he’s allowed to shower, his surgeon will likely recommend that he puts a waterproof cover over his incisions first.
Infection
With proper incision care, the risk of infection is lower. It’s not eliminated, however, so you need to make sure that he’s healing correctly. Nurses can check his temperature and watch for other signs of infection when cleaning his incisions.
If he has an infection starting, the sooner it’s identified, the easier it is to treat. Nurses can spot the early warning signs, alert his surgeon, and make sure he starts taking oral antibiotics or sets up an IV of whatever antibiotic is recommended.
Dietary Guidance
For the most part, your dad’s diet won’t be restricted, but he did just have surgery. He doesn’t want to strain muscles in his abdomen, so a high-fiber diet is recommended. He should also talk to his surgeon about gallstones and what causes them.
A drastic diet change, such as low-fat to high-fat can increase the risk of gallstones. Blood disorders like sickle cell anemia, cirrhosis of the liver, and biliary tract infections also increase the risk.
The gallbladder does help with the digestion of fatty foods. If he’s having his gallbladder removed, he needs to stop eating fatty foods as much as possible. Nurses can help him learn how to plan and prepare a healthy, balanced diet.
Skilled Nursing Care Administers Medication
Your dad will be given pain medications or told to alternate between ibuprofen and acetaminophen to manage the pain. If he struggles to remember when he last took a dose, he should have a nurse available for medication administration.
Lower the risk of having your dad return to the hospital after his surgery. Skilled nursing care services are one of the best ways to make sure your dad’s medical care needs are taken care of properly.
He’ll have skilled nurses helping him with everything from physical therapy exercises to medication administration. Your dad won’t have to figure out how to recognize if his incision is infected or healing properly. Learn more by talking to our expert in skilled nursing care.
If you or an aging loved one are considering Skilled Nursing Care Services in Frazier Park CA please contact the caring staff at Purpose Driven Home Health & Home Care. Call (661) 412-9730.
Purpose Driven Home Health & Home Care provides exceptional home care for seniors and families in Bakersfield, Wasco, Shafter, Delano, Lamont, Arvin, Taft, Tehachapi, Frazier Park, McFarland, and surrounding areas.
Purpose Driven Home Health & Home Care provides exceptional home care for seniors and families in Bakersfield, Wasco, Shafter, Delano, Lamont, Arvin, Taft, Tehachapi, Frazier Park, McFarland, and surrounding areas.
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