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Exploring Home Health Care Benefits


Home Health Care After Bariatric Surgery

Surgery for weight loss, also called bariatric surgery, includes sleeve gastrectomy and gastric bypass, which causes early satiety. This means that you will become fuller sooner because small portions of food are enough to keep you satiated, or full. There are numerous benefits to bariatric surgery, including more energy, lowered risk for heart disease, better blood pressure, and a decreased risk for diabetes. If you are unable to perform your bariatric care independently after your weight loss surgery, a home health caregiver can assist you with the following interventions while you are recovering. 

Personal Hygiene Assistance

Having someone home with you after your weight loss surgery can provide you with both physical assistance and moral support. Because bariatric surgery is an abdominal procedure, you may need help to go to the bathroom. Your home health caregiver can offer you "stand by" assistance support, where they just stand in close proximity to you and assist you if needed, or give you actual physical support.

If you have drainage tubes in your abdomen following your weight loss surgery, the bariatric care provider will make sure that they are not disturbed or dislodged when you use the bathroom. The caregiver will also provide you with the tools you need to stay clean after using the bathroom such as personal wipes and water bottles that spray a gentle flow of water to the perineal area after urination and bowel movements. Perineal water bottle cleanses are especially helpful if you are too weak or unsteady to wipe yourself with toilet tissue.

Wound And Drain Care

It is essential that your surgical wound stays clean after your weight loss surgery. The home caregiver can clean and maintain the wound per your doctor's orders and monitor the site for symptoms of infection. These may include increased redness, drainage, bleeding, and inflammation. If the caregiver notices any abnormal changes in your wound, they can notify your doctor, family, or support person from the bariatric care community.

In addition to your surgical wound, the bariatric care provider will maintain the drains that have been placed inside your abdomen to help drain excess fluid. While your bariatric surgeon may remove the drains prior to your hospital discharge, there may be instances where they need to remain in place for longer periods of time.

If you are anticipating weight loss surgery, consider the benefits of a bariatric care home healthcare provider. When you receive both physical and emotional support following your procedure, you may be more likely to enjoy a speedy recovery.

For more information on bariatric care, contact a professional near you.

About Me

Exploring Home Health Care Benefits

Hey there, I'm Jesse Sutherland. When I learned that my child would be born with severe disabilities, I worried about how I would perform all of the healthcare procedures on my own. My child needed mucus sucked out of both lungs around the clock at first. Furthermore, bathing and feeding often required two people to complete without messing up all of the tubes and monitors. Luckily, I was able to receive help from a home healthcare professional, which took a lot of pressure off my shoulders. I want to share all of the assistance I received from these professionals. I will also discuss the benefits of having help with difficult procedures. Thank you for visiting.

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