AARP highlights how to be a caregiver for someone having knee replacement surgery.

Here are some of the things George and Wysin say you can do to help someone get ready for surgery:

Catherine Wysin PT, DPT, physical therapist at HSS suggests making the home safer. Clear away throw rugs, clutter, and other tripping hazards. “The patient’s balance is going to be off,” Wysin explained. 

Wysin also stresses the importance of thinking about stairs and chairs. If your loved one will need to climb stairs to get into their home or to their bed, physical therapists will make sure they know how to do it safely before they leave the surgical center. But some people set up a temporary sleeping and resting spot on a ground floor, they say. Get their spot ready — ideally with a bed, a sofa, or chair/ottoman combo that will let your loved one rest with a straight leg, Wysin said. Recliners, she noted, may not be ideal, since they can bend the knee.

Read the full article at aarp.org.