Caring for Someone After Hip Replacement

The first 48 hours at home

This is the window where the most hands-on help is needed. The hip precautions are the single most important thing to get right: no bending the hip past 90 degrees, no crossing the legs, and no twisting the foot inward. Dislocation risk is highest in these early weeks, before the muscles and tissue around the joint have healed enough to hold the joint stable on their own.

Practically, that means helping with anything that would require them to bend forward or reach down: putting on socks and shoes, picking something up from the floor, getting in and out of a low chair, bath or car. A raised toilet seat and a firm chair with arms make a real difference — low, soft furniture is one of the most common ways hip precautions get broken by accident.

They will be using a walking frame or crutches and will need to be shown, and reminded, how to walk with it correctly. Expect them to need help showering (a shower stool and handheld showerhead help), getting dressed below the waist, and managing pain medication on schedule rather than waiting until pain builds up.

Red flags — call the surgical team

When in doubt, call the surgical team or ward they were discharged from. For chest pain, shortness of breath, or a visibly dislocated-looking joint, treat it as an emergency.

A practical help checklist

• Raise the toilet seat and move favourite chairs to firm, higher-seated options before they come home
• Clear floor clutter and loose rugs — anything that could cause a trip while using a frame
• Set up a shower stool and handheld showerhead
• Keep frequently used items at waist height so they don't need to bend or reach up
• Prepare meals that can be eaten one-handed or with minimal standing, especially for the first week
• Help manage a pain-medication schedule rather than leaving it to memory
• Drive them to follow-up appointments — they usually can't drive themselves for 6 to 8 weeks

Helping with exercises and rehab

Physiotherapy usually starts the day of or the day after surgery, with gentle exercises to build strength and prevent stiffness. A physiotherapist will set out specific exercises and a walking distance to build up gradually — your role is less about doing the exercises for them and more about making sure they actually happen on schedule, since pain and tiredness make it tempting to skip a session.

It helps to know what "too much" looks like: a short-lived increase in ache during or just after exercise is expected, but sharp pain, or pain that is worse hours later and hasn't settled by the next day, is worth mentioning to the physio team rather than pushing through. If they're using a walking frame outdoors or on stairs, stay close by for the first few attempts — a fall in the first few weeks is one of the more common and preventable setbacks.

Looking after yourself

Supporting someone through hip replacement recovery is physically demanding in ways that aren't always obvious until you're in it — helping someone stand, steadying them on stairs, or lifting their leg into bed adds up over weeks, not days. Protect your own back: let the walking frame and raised furniture do the supporting work rather than your own body wherever you can.

It's also common to feel impatient or frustrated at times, especially around week 3 when progress can plateau and both of you are tired of the restrictions. That's a normal part of a recovery this length, not a sign anything is going wrong. If you're caring for someone alone, line up a second person — even for a few hours a week — well before you think you'll need the break.

Many home care services, church groups and community organisations offer short-term respite specifically for post-surgical households, and asking early tends to get a better response than asking once you're already exhausted. There's no requirement to manage this alone, and accepting help from a wider circle doesn't take anything away from the care you're already giving.

How much help they'll need, week by week

This is a general guide, not a promise — age, fitness and how the surgery went all affect the pace. The full day-by-day recovery guide has the detail; this is the carer-eye view.

Questions worth asking before they're discharged

If you can be there for the discharge conversation, it's worth asking directly rather than guessing afterwards. A few that carers often wish they'd asked sooner:

• Exactly which hip precautions apply, and for how long — some surgeons now relax the rules earlier than the traditional 6–12 weeks
• What the wound dressing routine is, and who to call if it needs changing sooner than planned
• Whether blood-thinning medication is needed at home, for how long, and what to watch for
• Who to contact out of hours if something doesn't look right — a direct line is more useful than "see your GP"
• When the first follow-up appointment is, and whether they can get there themselves or will need a lift