9 Gift Ideas That Are Perfect for Someone in the Hospital

March 31, 2022 Macey Abrams

If your friend or family member is in the hospital, it’s natural to want to bring them something when you visit. However, how do you know what gift will be appropriate and appreciated?

To help you out, here are some hospital gift ideas (that aren’t flowers!) that are perfect for older adults.

What to Bring Someone in the Hospital After Surgery

Books and magazines

Boredom often runs rampant when a patient is stuck in bed. Bring your loved one a new book or the latest issue of their favorite magazine to help them pass the time.

Also, don’t forget about digital formats. If the person has a smartphone or tablet, get them a subscription to an online audiobook service like Audible, or help them download an eBook app if their library offers one. Podcasts are also a great idea—there are tons of options out there to suit everyone’s interests.

Food and Drink

Normally candy or a bottle of your friend’s drink of choice is a quick, easy and appreciated gift idea. However, you’ll likely want to steer clear of food and drink for someone in the hospital. They may be on a special diet that prohibits them from eating their favorite food or drinking their favorite beverage.

If they aren’t on a special diet, food and drink is always an option. During the holidays, consider bringing a seasonal treat or an old family recipe that brings back warm memories.

Games and Puzzles

Along those same lines, bring crossword puzzles or a deck of cards. You won’t want to bring anything that takes up too much space, such as a large board game, but there are plenty of compact options out there that would make great hospital gifts.

Card

There’s nothing wrong with this classic. It doesn’t take up much space but still conveys your warm wishes. Besides, keep in mind that most people simply appreciate the gift of your time when you visit them in the hospital. A card is a nice keepsake if you don’t want to come empty-handed, but don’t put too much pressure on yourself to come with the perfect gift.

Personal Care Items

Your loved one likely has the necessities already, either from the hospital or from home, but sometimes the little things get forgotten. Bring them some calming lotion or soothing lip balm. Even if they already have some, it’s always nice to enjoy a new scent.

You could also bring them some items to add to their comfort, such as a nice blanket or pillow. Fuzzy, warm socks are also a good gift—just be sure they have grips on the bottom.

Reusable Shopping Bags

You know how you pack for a vacation and leave space in your suitcase for gifts and souvenirs? People don’t usually think to do that for hospital stays—especially when the stay is unexpected. A very practical and useful gift is a reusable shopping bag or two for them to tote their other gifts home in.

It’s the gift that keeps on giving, as people who have had a long stay often need post-hospital rehabilitation. As they go back and forth for treatment, the bags will come in handy again.

Organizational Supplies

In the coming days and weeks, your loved one is going to be receiving a mountain of important paperwork, both from the hospital and any follow-up care during their recovery. Give them or their caregiver an easy way to organize everything by bringing a binder or expanding file.

Creative Hospital Gift Ideas

Looking for something that’s a bit more unique? Try these creative gift ideas.

Make a Comfort Box with Your Loved One

The experts at The Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center recommend “comfort boxes” to help anyone feeling stressed out or anxious.

What’s a comfort box?

“It’s an emotional first aid kit,” licensed psychiatric social worker Marybeth McDonald writes. “The idea is to fill the comfort box with things that you can use when you’re struggling that will help you feel and stay safe.”

If your loved one is struggling with the emotional aftermath of their surgery or hospital stay, a comfort box could help. On your next visit, you could bring an empty shoebox and supplies to decorate it together, then discuss what they would like to put in it. Some ideas include family pictures, favorite quotes, playlists and chocolate.

You can read more about how to create a comfort box on the Wexner medical center blog.

Post-Hospital Care Package

Sometimes the best gift for someone in the hospital is the one that comes after they’ve gone home or to a rehabilitation center. Make a post-hospital care package for your friend or family member and drop it off when they’ve arrived.

Include common, everyday things to save them or their caregiver a trip to the store when they get home. It’s also a good idea to include germ-killing hygiene items for visitors to use. Some ideas include:

Visitor-friendly snacks
Hand sanitizer
Dishwashing soap
Freezer bags
Trash bags
Toilet paper
Tissues

Ohio, Senior Health and Wellness

Vitamin C Benefits for Seniors

March 18, 2022 Macey Abrams

Vitamin C is typically associated with cold and flu season because it aides the body in fighting viruses. But it does so much more than just prevent colds, it’s also an essential nutrient in living and aging.

Health Benefits

Continued research shows evidence that vitamin C may help lower blood pressure as well as potential antioxidant effects that can help reduce symptoms of asthma and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. Vitamin C also aides our bodies in additional functions, some of which include:

Lowering risk of cataracts;
Reducing the signs of aging in the skin;
Encouraging white blood cell creation, helping the body fight infections;
Promoting collagen production, which helps wounds heal faster;
Stabilizing blood sugar in people with diabetes;
Dilating blood vessels, promoting a healthier heart;
Converting cholesterol into bile salt to eliminate it from the body;
Lowering uric acid in the blood, helping to prevent a painful form of arthritic known as gout.

While the connection is uncertain, vitamin C is believed to help reduce inflammation and as a result, contributes to the reduction of dementia and some types of cancer.

Vitamin C Deficiency Health Risks

In contrast, not providing your body with sufficient levels can increase your risk for some health conditions and diseases. Vitamin C deficiency manifests symptomatically after about 8 to 12 weeks of inadequate intake. Initial symptoms most have are drowsiness, weakness and irritability, but you may also experience:

frequent nosebleeds
bleeding gums
weight gain
slower metabolism
easily bruised skin
difficulty healing wounds
weakened immune system
anemia

If you experience any of these symptoms, it is important to speak with your physician.

How much is enough?

As is true of many vitamins, there is no clear answer on the daily amount to consume. The following recommendations from several leading authorities should be discussed with your physician.

The U.S. Food and Nutrition Board of the Institute of Medicine recommends men over the age of 18 take 90 milligrams a day and women of the same age take 75 milligrams daily.
Researches from Oregon State University say the daily allowance should be 200 milligrams per day for both men and women.
Scientists from the University of Michigan suggest an even higher number, believing that consuming 500 milligrams of vitamin c each day promotes optimal health.

Vitamin C Rich Foods

Vitamin C is water soluble and the body does not store it, this is why daily consumption is strongly encouraged. The bright side is that there are many fruits and vegetables naturally rich in vitamin C that can be easily incorporated in your daily diet. Mix them into other foods, soups and smoothies, if necessary.

Leafy greens, such as spinach and romaine lettuce,
Cruciferous vegetables like cauliflower and broccoli,
Strawberries, raspberries. blueberries and cranberries,
Kiwi, papaya, pineapple and mango,
Green, yellow and red peppers,
Tomatoes and tomato juice.

We encourage you to evaluate your current consumption and potential deficiency symptoms. If you should have any concerns, contact your physician.

Caregiver Resources, Ohio

4 Tips to Travel Well with Your Senior Parents

March 14, 2022 Macey Abrams

Now that summer has arrived in central Ohio, many families are busy planning for a vacation. If your summer travel plans will include an older loved one, taking a few extra precautions can make the trip more enjoyable for everyone.

Traveling Well with Your Senior Parents

Plan Your Itinerary Carefully: When you are traveling with an older loved one, taking their needs into consideration is an important part of making the trip successful. Consider what their best time of day is and plan to travel during that time. This is especially true if your senior loved one has Alzheimer’s disease. If you will be traveling by car, be sure to book hotel rooms ahead of time. Plan your route to allow for frequent rest breaks throughout the day. If you are traveling by air, try to book direct flights to help make the travel day shorter and less complicated.
Set Realistic Expectations: Jam-packed vacation days might work when you are traveling with your teenagers, but for older adults it may be unrealistic. Try to arrange the itinerary so the days are broken up by stops to rest and refuel.
Plan for an Emergency: No one wants to think the worst will happen while they are on vacation, but it is better to be prepared just in case. Take a few minutes before you leave to research local hospitals and urgent care centers in your destination city. If your loved one has dementia, call the local chapter of the Alzheimer’s Association to ask for a list of resources, such as adult day centers. Finally, assemble a file of your senior loved one’s important health information. It should include their medication list, physician contact information, allergies and medical history. There are apps you can download for your cell phone to make storing that information easier. One that might help is CareZone.
Consider Purchasing Travel Insurance: Caregiving emergencies can happen at the most inconvenient of times. Because of that, you might want to consider travel insurance. If the unexpected happens, it may allow you to recoup some of your travel expenses.

If traveling with the Columbus area senior you are a caregiver for won’t be a good fit for your vacation plans this summer, respite care can provide a solution. Your loved one can enjoy a short-term stay with us while you are away. Call us at 614.345.9500 for more information.

Caregiver Resources, Ohio

Recognizing Early Signs of Hoarding

March 14, 2022 Macey Abrams

The current generation of seniors typically didn’t move much. Many have lived in their same home for many decades. After you have lived in a home for a number of years, it is easy to find you have accumulated a lot of extra belongings. It may lead adult children to have a difficult time assessing if clutter has actually crossed the line into hoarding.

While it might be a difficult topic to tackle, it is an important one to address. Clutter and hoarding can put seniors at greater risk for falls or illnesses related to mold and mildew. Hoarding can also increase the odds for a fire in the home.

The Statistics on Hoarding

Researchers estimate that as much as 5% of the U.S. population could be considered a mild hoarder and as many as 15 million people could be full blown hoarders. The problem with determining more exact numbers is drawing a line between what is considered clutter and what is really hoarding.

Recognizing the Early Signs of Hoarding in an Older Adult

A few of the warning signs that may indicate a senior loved one is becoming a hoarder are:

Piles of junk mailed saved in stacks on a dresser, desk or floor
Kitchen cabinets filled with empty food boxes or containers
Freezer or refrigerator full of expired foods they won’t throw away
Continually acquiring things they don’t need
Chairs that are becoming so full of old papers and magazines you can’t sit on them
Reluctance to allow visitors into the home

If more than one or two of these symptoms could be used to describe your aging loved one, they might have a problem that extends beyond clutter.

What Causes Hoarding in Seniors?

The first step in helping a Columbus area senior who may be hoarding is to understand the cause. Older adults are at risk for the behavior for a variety reasons. The most common ones include:

Anxiety and stress
Depression
Fear of losing possessions attached to memories
Health problems including dementia
The need to be in control
Loneliness
Substance abuse

Your loved one’s family physician may be able to help you get to the bottom of what is causing this behavior.

Help for Hoarders

The followings resources may also be of help to adult children who are trying to cope with and manage a senior loved one’s hoarding:

Need more help with questions helping your aging loved one? Contact us at 614.345.9500 today.

Ohio, Senior Health and Wellness

Top 5 Amazing Health Benefits of Gardening for Seniors

March 12, 2022 Macey Abrams

A green thumb is a healthy thumb. Discover the benefits of gardening for seniors to inspire you during this growing season!

1. Gardening helps keep seniors active.

Gardening is a way to get your whole body moving. As you plant, weed and water, you’re putting your whole body to work. For seniors, an added benefit is that most gardening tasks are moderate-intensity exercises so you can burn calories without putting too much strain on your body.

Curious about how many calories you burn when gardening? About 200-400 calories per hour, according to WebMD. Just keep in mind, you may want to get help for some of the higher-intensity tasks, such as mulching or digging.

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2. Being around plants can be therapeutic.

Simply by being around plants, you can improve your overall well-being. Dr. Jonathan S. Kaplan notes that plants can produce psychological benefits from their presence alone.

“Feeling good around plants is probably not surprising. After all, we surround ourselves with plants during celebrations and tragedies (i.e., weddings and funerals, respectively),” he says. “We also set aside ‘sacred’ green space for parks and community gardens in our cities and communities.”

The presence of plants can improve reaction times, improve perceptions of the space you’re in and lower levels of anxiety (especially if you’re recovering from a surgery or illness).

The best news is, even if your health doesn’t allow you to be active in an outdoor garden, you can still benefit from indoor plants in the same way. If this is the case, Dr. Kaplan shares these potted plants that were used in the studies he cited:

Golden Pothos (Epipremnum aureum)
Arrowhead Vine (Syngonium podophyllum)
Chinese evergreen (Aglaonema sp.)
Dracaena (various)
Philodendron
Snake plants (Sansevieria trifasciata)
Peace Lilly (spathiphyllum starlight)
Vinca Vines

These plants can be especially beneficial for seniors in assisted living or inpatient rehab. You could keep a small indoor garden of plants on your window sill to gain the psychological benefits of plants. It can also be a fun activity to tend to the plants when your grandchildren visit.

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3. Gardening improves your mental health.

On a similar note, gardening improves your mental wellness. Gardening is good for you and your mental health because it gives you a sense of responsibility, keeps you connected to nature and living things, relaxes you and provides a healthy outlet for negative feelings.

Some other mental health benefits of gardening include:

Lower stress levels
Increased mental clarity
Increased feelings of reward

4. Gardening increases your vitamin D intake.

Imagine being in the garden on a cool spring morning. There’s still dew on the grass and the air is a bit chilly, but then the sun comes out from behind the clouds and warms you along with the flowers and plants that surround you. These blissful moments aren’t just good for your mood—they’re good for your health.

Research shows that sunlight helps older adults achieve adequate serum vitamin D levels, which is vital because our skin’s ability to synthesize vitamin D decreases with age.

The health benefits of vitamin D for seniors include:

Bone and teeth health maintenance
Immune, brain and nervous system support
Insulin level regulation
Lung function and cardiovascular health support

The more time you spend outside, the more vitamin D you’ll be able to absorb. Gardening gives you extra motivation to go outside daily and get some sun (if the Ohio weather cooperates, of course).

Just be sure to wear sunscreen and sunglasses, because there can always be too much of a good thing.

5. Gardening can reduce feelings of loneliness.

The final benefit of gardening may come as a bit of a surprise. Gardening is often a solitary pursuit, so how can it help prevent feelings of loneliness?

The answer is simple. With the increasing popularity of community gardens, it’s easy to meet and talk with fellow gardeners within your community. You can also join online gardening groups to make new friends or see if there are any local gardening clubs you can join.

Gardening Safety Tips for Seniors

When you’re out in the garden, keep these safety tips for seniors in mind:

As we age, our skin becomes more susceptible to sunburn so be sure to wear sunscreen.
Falls can be a risk when gardening. Make sure all walking paths are clear of debris and consider special gardening tools for seniors, such as a rolling garden seat or a garden kneeler that has handles to help you kneel and stand back up.
Older adults tend to be more susceptible to temperature changes and dehydration. Limit your time in the garden on hot days and be sure to drink plenty of water.

Find more safety tips for Central Ohio seniors here.

Gardening Is Good for the Soul

All of these health benefits are reasons why our assisted living communities and rehab centers have beautiful outdoor courtyards for residents to enjoy nature in. Residents are also welcome to use them for planting so they can continue doing what they love after they move into assisted living.

For more senior health and wellness tips, read our blog or explore our resources for older adults and their families.

Assisted Living, Ohio

How to Decorate an Assisted Living Apartment

March 12, 2022 Macey Abrams

Is your parent moving to an assisted living apartment? Do you have questions about how to decorate the new space? We have the answers!

To help you through the process, we’d like to share these 5 tips for decorating an assisted living apartment.

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Answers to the most common questions seniors have about moving to assisted living

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Top 5 Tips for Decorating an Assisted Living Apartment

1. Use existing pieces to add a personal, homey touch.

It might be tempting to go out and buy a bunch of fun new things to decorate the apartment with, but it’s always a good idea to incorporate a few existing pieces of furniture, artwork and decor. That will help make the new apartment feel more like home right away.

Of course, you don’t want to bring everything your parent owns. No matter how spacious the apartment is, it’s unlikely you’ll be able to fit a house worth of furniture in it. That’s why it’s important to downsize (or rightsize) belongings before making the move. Decide which items are most important and practical, and bring those—the rest can be sold, donated or given to family members.

2. Consider multi-functional furniture.

Multi-functional furniture can help get the most out of the new space. Furniture that serves more than one purpose can help you save valuable floor space, meaning more room for the resident and their belongings.

Here are some examples of multi-functional furniture pieces that are great for assisted living apartments:

Drop leaf tables. These classic table types are a great way to save some space, whether they’re being used as a desk, an end table or even a dining table to entertain guests for a nice cup of coffee and an afternoon chat.
Stackable or foldable chairs. A lot of people think that there are strict visiting hours at an assisted living community. This simply isn’t the case at most communities. At Optalis, for example, family and friends are allowed to visit 24/7. If your parent enjoys entertaining, you might want to consider bringing extra seating that can be tucked away to conserve space after the guests have left for the day.
Space-saving desks. Does your parent enjoy writing, sketching or crafting? A desk is a great surface for a lot of different hobbies, but they can be bulky. Never fear, though! Think like a college kid and use a smaller desk with a fold-up top and plenty of drawer storage space.
Shelves and drawers galore. Try to look for furniture that has extra storage space built-in. With the recent tiny house trend, there are plenty of options out there for furniture that does double duty as storage space. For example, you look for an end table that’s entirely drawers, a footstool with a top that comes off to reveal storage space or simply multi-purpose shelves to store everything from reading glasses to suitcases.

3. Design with safety in mind.

Senior living communities are designed with senior safety in mind. This is vital because in addition to creating a warm and welcoming atmosphere, interior design can affect the health and well-being of seniors. For example, a senior living space should avoid slippery flooring, utilize outdoor spaces to encourage healthy sun exposure and offer firm, upright seating that’s easy to get up from.

Of course, that safety shouldn’t stop when a resident is back in their room. When decorating, try to avoid loose rugs that might cause a senior to trip or fall. Make sure there’s a lot of lighting, with bedside lamps that are easy to reach. Use furniture with drawers that have large, easy-to-grab doorknobs.

In the meantime, while your parent is still living at home, check out this home safety checklist for Central Ohio seniors.

4. Arrange furniture carefully.

In keeping with senior safety, you want to be sure your parent’s room is easy to navigate. Aside from making it more convenient for them to get around, it can also cut down on falls if the room has clear paths and wide walkways.

Using a floor plan of your parent’s new apartment, you can diagram where furniture can go before the move. If your parent uses a wheelchair or walker, keep that in mind as you plan the space with them.

5. Keep hobbies in mind.

Just because your parent is in a new space doesn’t mean they can’t still do what they love. If your parent loves to embroider, think about using a utility cart to hold their supplies. If they like to scrapbook, make sure there’s a space for them to lay out the pages. If they’re a collector, look into space-efficient shelving.

If your parent loves to socialize, there will also be common spaces for them to enjoy at the assisted living community, and there will be plenty of social and recreational activities for them to take part in and meet new people.

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Downsizing? Don’t forget about the emotional side of decluttering

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Assisted Living for Central Ohio Seniors

Finding the right place for your senior parent can be difficult. You want to find a community that will give your parent the highest quality care while helping them maintain their lifestyle.

Assisted Living, Ohio

Why it’s Important to Choose an Assisted Living Community Offering a Continuum of Care

March 11, 2022 Macey Abrams

When assessing the right senior living community for your parent, ensure that you are considering their current and future care needs. A senior living community that offers a continuum of care may be the best option if you want to ensure your parent doesn’t need to move again when their care needs care.

Optalis assisted living communities offer a continuum of care with rehab and skilled nursing services. Here’s why that matters when you’re choosing an assisted living community.

What Is Continuum of Care in a Senior Community?

Assisted living is a great fit for seniors who are for the most part independent but need a little help every now and again with things like transportation or remembering to take medication.

However, assisted living might not be the only care that you or a loved one will ever need. This AARP report on assisted living found that the average length of an assisted living stay “ranges from approximately 2.5 to 3 years.” At the end of that period, most residents moved to a community that provided skilled nursing care (also known as long-term care).

If you move to an Optalis assisted living community, we can meet residents’ needs all on one campus, even if their care needs change. Of course, long-term care isn’t the only option available to assisted living residents. If a resident in an assisted living apartment suffers a health setback that requires a hospital stay, they can receive post-hospital rehab services at the Optalis community they already call home. Once they are back on their feet, they can get right back to living in their former apartment.

Continuum of Care Means Fewer Disruptions

Yes, moving can be a hassle and some people would prefer to stay at home. But the fact is, it’s more likely than not that seniors will need some form of long-term care—and the likelihood of needing it only increases with age.

To put this into perspective, consider that 59% of all assisted living residents eventually move to a skilled nursing facility. Moving into an assisted living community with a continuum of care in place means that after the initial move, you will never have to worry about moving again if your needs change.

At an Optalis care community, if you ever need more care than assisted living can provide, you don’t need to pick up and move from one location to another. All you’ll have to do is switch rooms.

Continuous Community Living

Another benefit of living somewhere that offers multiple care services is the familiarity and sense of community such a place fosters.

We take the time to get to know each person. It’s a crucial part of our personalized healthcare approach. We get to know not just your healthcare needs, but also your personality, likes and dislikes.

If a resident begins in assisted living and moves to long-term care in the future, they will continue to be surrounded by familiar residents and staff. This can be enormously beneficial and comforting, not only to residents, but for their loved ones as well.

Assisted Living for Couples

Couples are more than welcome to live in our assisted living communities. But beyond that, the continuum of care we offer also allows for couples to remain close regardless of different care levels.

For example, let’s say that you are a good fit for assisted living. Your significant other, on the other hand, needs a little more assistance and is a better fit for long-term care. At an Optalis care community where both levels of care are available, you’ll be able live on the same campus and visit each other whenever you’d like, share meals together and participate in whichever activities and events you enjoy!

Senior Living Continuum of Care in Columbus Ohio

If you have any questions about a continuum of care senior living community, we’re here to help. You can contact us at any of our central Ohio locations or find out more about assisted living options.

Ohio, Rehabilitation

How To Meal Prep Before Planned Surgery

March 1, 2022 Macey Abrams

Meal prepping is one of the best things you can do to prepare for a planned surgery like a knee replacement or cardiovascular surgery. It’s an easy way to make the transition home from the hospital or post-hospital rehab center a little smoother.

If you or a loved one will be having surgery soon, here are some meal prep tips to help improve the recovery process.

What To Eat After Surgery

Post-surgery diets depend on the procedure that you go in for. Check with your doctor to see what you’ll be allowed to eat. If there are any foods that you should avoid, they’ll be able to provide you with some guidance so you can plan ahead of time.

Additionally, if you’re going to be taking any prescription medications, be sure to ask your pharmacist if any foods will interact negatively with your pills. For example, some common foods that interfere with medications include grapefruit juice, leafy green vegetables and salt substitutes.

In general, it’s a good idea to avoid processed foods post-surgery, as they tend to have a lot of fat, sugar, salt and chemical additives. Eat plenty of fiber to prevent constipation, a common after-surgery complaint. You can get the necessary fiber from fruits, vegetables, whole grains and cereal.

How to Meal Prep: The Basics

New to the world of meal-prep? You’ve probably heard of it before as the practice has grown in popularity in recent years, but perhaps you’ve never tried it yourself. If that’s the case, here are some tips to help you as you prepare meals for the week:

Start by making a calendar to plan out your meals for the week. Use your favorite recipes—there are some special recipes for easy meal-prep that you can find online, but there’s nothing wrong with using your old favorites.
Pick one day to make all your meals for the week. Most people prefer Sunday.
Try making big batches of recipes that can be incorporated with other things. For example, chef and cookbook author Pamela Salzman recommends making chili, then using it through the week either “spooned over baked sweet potatoes, on top of tortilla chips with avocado and radishes for quick nachos, or layered with corn tortillas and cheese for a Tex-Mex lasagna.”
While your main dish recipes are cooking, chop fruits and vegetables to use as sides or snacks.
Divide each part of your meals in compartmentalized, air-tight containers to keep them crisper and fresher.
Make time go faster with audiobooks. Check with your local library, as most allow you to check out CDs or have apps for your smartphone to listen to audiobooks for free.

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Meal Prep Ideas for Older Adults

Breakfast

Cereal can get a little dull day after day. Add some fruit to liven things up, or make a batch of breakfast egg muffins (you can find three different recipe variations here). Pancakes can also be made in advance and frozen — they reheat very well in the microwave.

Lunch

Try making sandwiches or wraps and include healthy sides like salads or sliced fruit. You could also make sides like fried rice, roasted veggies or soup and spread them throughout the week.

Pasta can be a versatile meal prep tool. You can make a batch on Sunday and use different sauces to keep things interesting during the week.

And remember, meal prep works best when you use the different ingredients in multiple ways. So, for example, you could take the roasted veggies that you’re using as a side and mix them with the pasta for one meal, or take some of the fresh veggie sides and throw them in with the rice to make stir-fry.

Dinner

Chicken is a popular meal-prep meat as it can be used in so many ways. If you start the week with roasted chicken, you can enjoy it on its own, use it for a sandwich, or throw it in a soup.

It’s also a lean meat, which makes it a healthy choice for your post-surgery diet. Other lean meats include turkey, pork and seafood.

However, the choice is yours. The most important thing is to cook meals that you’ll enjoy to help get your appetite back in the week following your surgery.

Some meal-preppers plan out their dinner recipes, then incorporate them into lunches. You can find a wealth of meal-prep friendly recipes online or stick with your tried-and-true favorites. You can also check out these quick and easy recipes you’ll love that we recently shared.

Making Post-Surgery Plans

We hope these meal-prep tips help improve your recovery experience. If you have a scheduled surgery coming up, there’s a lot you can do to prepare for it.

For example, if your surgery will require some therapy during your recovery, did you know that you can schedule a stay at a post-hospital rehab center? If you would like to learn more, contact us today.