My father lives in a small town 90 miles from the hospital or his doctor. He's going to have a total knee replacement next month. The plan right now is to release him directly to home after the operation. Can he really manage on his own?

It depends. Younger men (less than 66 years) who can still walk two blocks or more without using a cane or walker are good candidates for discharge directly home from the hospital.

If your father is already depending on community services such as meals-on-wheels or home health, he may need extra time in the hospital or rehab center first before coming home.

Ask your father what he can and can't do now before the operation. It's likely these things won't change much in the early days after the operation. This may help you plan for his release from the hospital to the right place, whether that's your home, his home, or an extended care facility.

If all goes well, most patients recover and regain lost motion and strength at a regular pace during the first four to six weeks. Some extra help may be needed even if your father goes to his own home. What and how much will depend on his status before the operation and how well the surgery goes.

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