Post-Surgery Home Setup Guide (Hip & Knee Recovery)

The single most valuable principle of surgery recovery is to set everything up before the operation, while the person is still mobile and you have time to think clearly. After hip or knee surgery they will come home tired, in pain, and dramatically less able to move around — bending, reaching, climbing stairs, and getting up and down all become hard or restricted. Walking into a home that is already safe and reachable makes the difference between a smooth recovery and a stressful, risky one.

This guide focuses on the home setup for orthopedic (hip and knee) recovery. Pair it with the broader post-hospital recovery at home and what to expect after discharge guides, and always follow the surgical team’s specific precautions.

Set up a comfortable base on the main floor, ideally avoiding stairs in the early days, with everything the person needs within easy reach so they are not tempted to bend, stretch, or move unsafely:

• A supportive chair — firm, with armrests to push up from, at a height that makes standing easier (too-low, soft seats are hard and unsafe after hip/knee surgery). A pressure-relief cushion adds comfort for long sitting.
• Everything within arm’s reach — water, medications, phone and charger, tissues, remote, glasses, and a way to call for help.
• A reacher/grabber tool so they can pick things up without bending — important when bending is restricted; see grabber tools.
• Avoid stairs early — if the bedroom or only bathroom is upstairs, consider setting up a temporary sleeping and living area downstairs.

A fall onto a freshly operated hip or knee is one of the worst setbacks in recovery, so fall-proofing is not optional — it is central. Work through the home:

• Clear all walking paths of clutter and cords, creating wide, unobstructed routes for a walker.
• Remove or securely fix loose rugs and mats — the classic trip hazard, and doubly dangerous with a walker.
• Improve lighting everywhere, with night lights on the route to the bathroom for night-time safety.
• Tidy pet and trip hazards, and consider taping down or removing thresholds.
• Add support where needed — grab bars and secure handrails, especially on any stairs that must be used.

Our senior home safety guide and fall prevention guide give the full room-by-room approach.

The bathroom is high-risk after hip or knee surgery — low toilets and slippery, tight spaces are exactly the challenges a new joint cannot handle. Prepare it well:

• A raised toilet seat (often with arms) — sitting too low can breach hip precautions and is hard on a new knee; raising it makes toileting safe and possible. A raised commode chair is another option, including as a bedside commode early on.
• Grab bars by the toilet and in the shower/bath — see grab bars for seniors and suction grab bars (though bolted bars are more secure for bearing weight).
• A shower chair or bench so they can wash seated — see shower chairs for seniors — plus a handheld shower head and non-slip mats.
• Long-handled aids — a long-handled sponge and sock aid help with washing and dressing when bending is restricted; see dressing aids.

Set the bedroom up for limited mobility and safe getting in and out of bed:

• Bed height — the bed should be high enough to sit and rise from easily (hips above knees); bed risers help if it is too low.
• Clear the path from bed to door and bathroom, well lit with a night light, for safe night-time trips.
• Getting in and out — a bed assist handle or, where appropriate and safe, a bed rail provides support; see safe bedroom setup.
• Essentials within reach — phone, water, medications, and a way to call for help by the bed.

Finally, have the practical essentials ready before the day of surgery:

• Prescribed mobility aids — usually a walker initially (and later perhaps a cane); have it fitted and ready, and see walker vs cane.
• Ice packs, dressings, and any prescribed supplies for the wound and swelling, following the surgical team’s instructions.
• A [medication system](/reviews/best-pill-organizers-for-seniors) ready for the new post-op regimen, including any blood thinners — see medication management.
• Food and household prep — stock easy meals, and arrange help with cooking, shopping, and cleaning for the first weeks.
• Help lined up — arrange family, friends, or care support for the early period when the person cannot manage alone, and consider a medical alert device.

With the home ready, focus can shift to the recovery itself — and to watching for problems; see post-surgery complications in the elderly.