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That first fortnight at home is where recovery is either straightforward or goes wrong. Dressings need changing properly. Medication has to be on schedule. Somebody has to notice if the wound starts looking wrong, and know what wrong looks like.
Maids Hands For You lets you arrange that person before the discharge rather than scrambling after it. Take a subscription, filter for nurses in your district, and call them while the surgery date is still ahead of you. Ask what post-operative cases she's handled. The good ones answer specifically.
No commission on the hire. Profiles cover all 14 Kerala districts.
Arrange it before the discharge, not after
This is the practical advice that makes the most difference and almost nobody gives it.
You usually know the surgery date at least a week or two ahead. Use that time. Read the profiles, call two or three nurses, agree who's coming and from which day. Then the discharge happens and care is already in place.
Families who wait until discharge day end up taking whoever is free that evening, which is a smaller pool and usually not the best fit. The same subscription covers you either way, so there's no reason to wait.
Ask the surgeon at the pre-operative visit what care will be needed at home and for how long. Then hire against that answer rather than a guess.
Nurse or carer after surgery
For post-operative recovery the answer is usually a nurse, and it's worth being direct about why.
A surgical patient comes home with a wound, often stitches or staples, sometimes a drain, and a medication schedule that matters. Dressing changes have to be done with clean technique or the wound gets infected. Someone needs to recognise early infection. Those are nursing tasks.
A qualified nurse (ANM or GNM) handles wound and dressing care, drain management, prescribed medication and injections, vitals monitoring, catheter care where present, and knowing when to call the doctor.
A trained carer can take over once the wound has healed and the patient is mostly mobile but still needs help with bathing, meals and moving around. Many families run a nurse for the first two weeks and switch to a carer after that, which is a sensible way to manage the cost.
How long care is usually needed
Every case differs and the surgeon's advice overrides anything here, but as a general guide:
| Surgery | Typical home nursing period |
|---|---|
| Knee or hip replacement | 3 to 6 weeks, often longer with physiotherapy |
| Abdominal or major open surgery | 2 to 4 weeks |
| Cardiac surgery or bypass | 4 to 8 weeks |
| Caesarean | 2 to 4 weeks, see post-delivery care |
| Laparoscopic or keyhole procedures | 1 to 2 weeks |
| Fracture surgery with immobilisation | 3 to 6 weeks |
Most families start with a nurse for the first stretch and then either step down to a carer or stop altogether once the patient is moving independently.
What the nurse does at home
- Cleaning and dressing the surgical site as the doctor instructed
- Watching the wound for signs of infection
- Giving prescribed medication and injections on schedule
- Monitoring and recording temperature, blood pressure, pulse and sugar
- Managing drains and catheters where present
- Helping the patient sit up, stand and walk safely as mobility returns
- Supporting the physiotherapy exercises the therapist has set
- Helping with bathing without wetting the wound
- Watching for fever, breathlessness, swelling in the legs and other warning signs
- Telling the family and doctor when something needs attention
All of it follows the treating doctor's instructions. Home nursing supports the surgeon's plan and doesn't alter it.
Signs a wound may be infected
Worth knowing yourself, not just leaving to the nurse. Contact the surgeon if you see:
- Increasing pain after the first few days, when it should be easing
- Redness spreading outward from the wound edge
- Swelling that's getting worse rather than settling
- Discharge that's yellow, green or foul-smelling
- The wound feeling hot to touch
- Fever, particularly above 100.4°F or with chills
- The wound edges separating
Early infection is usually straightforward to treat. Waiting is what makes it serious. If in doubt, call the surgeon rather than waiting for the next scheduled visit.
What it costs
The subscription is what you pay us for profile access.
Her salary is paid directly to her:
| Arrangement | Trained carer | Qualified nurse |
|---|---|---|
| Day duty | ₹12,000 to ₹18,000 / month | ₹18,000 to ₹25,000 / month |
| Night duty | ₹15,000 to ₹20,000 / month | ₹20,000 to ₹28,000 / month |
| Live-in | ₹18,000 to ₹25,000 / month | ₹25,000 to ₹35,000 / month |
Since post-operative care is usually a few weeks rather than months, agree with the nurse upfront how a partial month is settled. Most work on a pro-rata basis, but settle it at the start rather than at the end.
Where we cover
- Kochi
- Trivandrum
- Calicut
- Thrissur
- Kottayam
- Kollam
- Alappuzha
- Palakkad
- Malappuram
- Kannur
- Wayanad
- Kasaragod
- Idukki
- Pathanamthitta
- Bangalore
While the patient is still admitted you may need a hospital bystander. If recovery leaves them unable to move for an extended period, see bedridden patient care. For follow-up appointments once home, see medical escort.
Frequently asked questions
How much does post-operative care at home cost in Kerala?
Roughly ₹18,000 to ₹25,000 a month for a qualified nurse on day duty, more for live-in, paid directly to her. A trained carer costs less and suits the later stage of recovery.
How long will I need a nurse after surgery?
Commonly one to two weeks after keyhole surgery, two to four after major abdominal surgery, three to six after joint replacement, and four to eight after cardiac surgery. Your surgeon's advice for the specific case comes first.
Can a nurse do wound dressing at home?
Yes. A qualified ANM or GNM nurse handles dressing changes, following the instructions given at discharge. A carer should not be doing this.
Should I hire a nurse or a carer after surgery?
A nurse while the wound needs dressing and medication needs administering. A carer once the wound has healed and the remaining need is help with bathing, meals and moving.
What are the signs of a wound infection?
Pain that increases after the first few days, redness spreading from the wound, worsening swelling, yellow or foul-smelling discharge, heat at the site, fever, or the wound edges opening. Call the surgeon rather than waiting.
When can the patient start walking?
It depends entirely on the surgery, and the surgeon or physiotherapist sets it. The nurse's role is to support that plan safely, not to decide the timing.
