
Recovering After Surgery in North Vancouver
By: Alana Breen, Operations Manager
The Truth About Surgery Recovery—and How to Actually Prepare for It
“I Just Didn’t Know What to Expect”
At Just Like Family Home Care, we get these kinds of calls all the time—especially from people heading into or just coming out of surgery.
And to be honest? I get it.
I’ve lived it.
The hardest part of recovering from surgery (besides the pain, of course) is not knowing. It’s the shift from being completely independent to suddenly needing support for the smallest things; things that used to feel second nature, like getting up to grab a glass of water or heading to the bathroom in the middle of the night are suddenly difficult if not down-right impossible on your own.
Hospitals do their best. They send you home with instructions, medication schedules, and rehab timelines. They mention a few devices or supports. But what no one really talks about is the real-life stuff: the part of recovery that happens when you’re back home and everything feels unfamiliar.
- Who’s going to support you in the shower?
- What if you can’t get out of bed without support?
- Will someone pick up your prescriptions or drive you to follow-ups?
- Who’s going to get your groceries and cook your meals?
- Will someone support you with meal preparation, so you feel a sense of control?
- Who’s going to tidy the house while you’re resting?
- And maybe most importantly, who’s going to bring you your cup of tea in the morning, just the way you like it?
These aren’t luxuries. These are real needs and being prepared for them can make all the difference between feeling overwhelmed and feeling supported.
Supporting My Aunt Through Hip Surgery
When my aunt had her hip replaced, I thought we were prepared. I’ve worked in home care for years. But that first week? It was a learning curve, even for me.
It wasn’t about wound care or managing medication. It was about her routines, her peace of mind, her independence—all the small things that made her feel like herself.
So I cleared my week. I was there every day. I even slept over. I made sure she:
- Took her meds on time
- Had someone nearby if she got dizzy at night
- Could get to the bathroom safely
- Had a nurse scheduled to check her incision and change her dressings
- Wasn’t left wondering if someone was going to show up to support her with a shower
- Had a clean, quiet space
- Got to enjoy her tea, her breakfast, and her news in the morning without disruption
We built her week around what mattered to her, not what looked good on paper.
Meals were prepped in advance. We figured out her walking routes inside the house so she could get used to the walker gradually. Her space was safe and functional, but still warm. Still hers.
And she was healing faster than we expected because she wasn’t stressed. She wasn’t scrambling to figure things out. She was well-fed, supported, and surrounded by familiarity. She didn’t feel like she had to explain or apologize for needing support, because we already planned for it.
Paying It Forward
A few weeks later, a woman was referred to us through Lions Gate Hospital. She had surgery coming up and hadn’t been sleeping. She was anxious. She said it all felt like doom. She didn’t know what to expect, and her mind kept spinning.
I could feel her fear.
And I remembered that same heaviness in my aunt’s voice before her surgery.
So I stayed on the phone with her. I didn’t offer a brochure or list of services. I just talked her through it like I would my own family.
We talked about what her first week might look like. The kinds of questions she hadn’t thought to ask—or maybe didn’t feel comfortable asking:
- Will physio come to your home or will someone need to drive you?
- What’s your bathroom setup like? Will you feel safe?
- If your support doesn’t show up, who do you call?
- Do you want meals prepped ahead of time or would you like someone to support cooking with you when you’re up for it?
- Would it help to have someone there who already knows your space and routine, who can show up before you even have to ask?
And somewhere between her questions and her deep breaths, she paused and said,
“I’m really glad I spoke to you. I feel so much better about what’s next.”
That’s the power of real, personal support.
Supportive Pain Management Isn’t Just About Medication
Yes—surgery comes with pain. But there’s a difference between being in pain and being alone in pain.
We use the term Supportive Pain Management because we know that what actually makes recovery feel manageable isn’t just the meds—it’s the presence of someone steady, reliable, and calm.
It’s having someone:
- Anticipate your needs
- Keep your space clean and peaceful
- Encourage you to move gently when it’s time
- Support your routines with dignity and kindness
- Bring warmth and rhythm back into your day
Sometimes it’s the same person who picks you up from the hospital, who brings you your lunch later that day, and who checks in again the next morning—not because it’s scheduled, but because it matters.
You Don’t Lose Your Independence—You Build It Back
The biggest thing I want people to know is this:
Needing support after surgery doesn’t mean you’re losing your independence.
Actually, the right kind of support helps you build it back faster, with confidence and dignity.
I’ve worked with people who start with daily visits and end up only needing support once a week. Some want support with groceries or to get back to their social groups. Others ask if their caregiver can come with them, not because they need to, but because they want them to. Because trust has been built. Because they feel safe.
And it all starts with a simple question:
“What do you need to feel like yourself again?”
Let’s Plan What Comes Next: Your Recovery Care in North Vancouver
You don’t have to figure it all out the night before your operation.
You don’t have to lose sleep trying to guess what you’ll need.
If you or a loved one is preparing for surgery and don’t know what to expect, we’re here to walk through it before, during, and after.
Let’s make a plan together. A plan that’s not just practical, but personal.
Because the truth is: recovery doesn’t begin when you leave the hospital. It begins when you walk into your own home and realize you’re not doing it alone.
At Just Like Family, we’re here for the moments that aren’t listed on hospital discharge papers, the ones that make you feel human again.
We’ve been there. And we’re here for you every step of the way.
Reach out to us for support. You can call, email, or book your free in home care consultation today.