You're preparing for surgery, and your instructions say someone should stay with you afterward. But what if you live alone, your family lives far away, or nobody is available to help?
This is an important issue to address before surgery, especially if you're going home the same day.
Not every procedure has the same caregiver requirements, but some patients need a responsible adult with them after anesthesia. If you don't have someone available, tell your surgical team before your procedure so you can discuss a safe plan.
It depends on the procedure and anesthesia.
After general anesthesia or sedation, you may feel awake but still experience temporary effects on your judgment, coordination, and reaction time.
For this reason, many facilities recommend or require a responsible adult to stay with you during the initial recovery period, often for the first 24 hours after general anesthesia.
Other procedures, particularly those involving only local anesthesia, may have different requirements.
Ask your surgical team whether someone must stay with you, for how long, and what that person needs to be able to do.
Living alone doesn't necessarily mean you cannot have surgery.
However, you may need to make temporary arrangements for the first part of your recovery.
Depending on your needs and your facility's rules, possibilities might include:
Not every option will satisfy every facility's discharge requirements. Confirm your arrangements before booking or paying for services.
For additional planning ideas, see How to Arrange Help After Surgery.
Possibly.
Some patients arrange private-duty caregivers or other professional assistance when family and friends are unavailable.
Before hiring anyone, ask your surgical facility:
A caregiver who helps with meals and household tasks may not necessarily meet the facility's requirements for supervision after anesthesia.
Not always.
Transportation and supervision are separate needs.
Your facility may require someone to accompany you home and remain with you for a specified period.
A taxi or rideshare driver generally shouldn't be assumed to meet the requirement for a responsible adult escort.
If transportation is also a challenge, see Can I Take an Uber Home After Surgery?
Contact your surgeon's office or preoperative team as soon as you know this may be a problem.
Explain your situation and ask:
Depending on your circumstances, the team may be able to discuss additional resources or different arrangements.
If the required support cannot be arranged, your surgical team will need to determine whether your discharge or surgery plan must change.
Don't assume you can skip a caregiver requirement because you expect to feel fine.
Call your surgical facility as soon as possible.
Tell them whether you've lost your ride home, your overnight support, or both.
The team can explain whether an alternative arrangement is acceptable and what happens if the required support is unavailable.
Avoid waiting until discharge to mention the problem.
Even when you have someone staying with you initially, you may spend much of the following recovery period managing on your own.
Before surgery, consider:
For more ideas, see How to Prepare Your Home for Surgery Recovery.
Preparing for surgery involves a lot of small but important steps. Download the free SurgiNav Surgery Prep Checklist to stay organized and feel more confident before your procedure.
If you don't have someone to stay with you after surgery, you're not necessarily out of options.
But it's important to find out exactly what support your surgical team requires before the procedure.
Start by explaining your situation to your surgical team. They can clarify the requirements and help you understand which arrangements may be acceptable.
Preparing for surgery can feel overwhelming, but you don't have to remember every detail on your own. Download the free SurgiNav Surgery Prep Checklist to stay organized, avoid common mistakes, and feel more confident before surgery day.
Download the Free Surgery Prep ChecklistThis article provides general educational information and is not a substitute for medical advice. Always follow the instructions provided by your healthcare team.
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Educational information only. Always follow your surgeon's instructions.