Top 3 Tips To Prep for Surgery at HOI

Happy Social Work month to our amazing team at HOI! Social workers spread compassion in action by helping individuals, families, communities, and our society reach their full potential.  At HOI, social workers help our patients plan for major surgery by educating, offering resources, and addressing mental health needs. Social workers empower patients to draw from resources within their own support systems and communities to help them in their journey of returning to their normal lives. “Having surgery can be stressful and scary, but we are there to remind patients that this is temporary and they will soon get back to what they loved doing,” states Julie Le, LCSW, CCM, HOI Care Management.

Here are the top 3 tips from our social workers when preparing to have surgery at HOI:

1. Attend a pre-operative class if offered.  The live classes are run by a trained nurse and contain helpful information on what to expect from your surgery and recovery.

2. When returning home after surgery, take advantage of offers from family and friends to help with cooking, cleaning, and visiting, allowing you to focus on recovery. If support is limited, there are resources available to hire additional help.

3. After surgery, it is normal to feel anxious, sad, or frustrated due to limitations. Engaging in positive distractions can support your overall well-being. Activities like having friends visit, doing word puzzles, and practicing meditation can help cope with these feelings by keeping your mind engaged and promoting relaxation.