Caregiver's Tips to Help Seniors Prepare for Surgery

Seniors are at an increased risk for experiencing complications both during and after surgery.

"Surgical procedures are understandably intimidating and it is a central role of the anesthesiologist to inform and care for the senior patient, before, during and after surgery," said Terri Monk, M.D., Duke University Medical Center. "The driving force behind these tips and the additional information found on LifelinetoModernMedicine.com was to create a central resource for seniors having surgery."

According to a WDAF report, the American Society of Anesthesiologists provides these tips to help seniors and caregivers prepare for surgery:

1. Get to know your physicians.

2. Don't be afraid to ask questions about the procedure.

3. Make sure to prepare for your preoperative conversation with your physician.

4. Provide your physician with a comprehensive list of medications and substances you take regularly.

5. Inform yourself about the type of anesthetic that will be used during surgery and its potential physical and mental effects.

6. Reach out to family and friends for support and remember that caregivers can help you deal with surgical complications.

7. Your caregivers should help you watch for cognitive problems after surgery.

Details on these tips are available online on the WDAF Web site here.