Care at home after hip replacement is usually needed for the first two to six weeks, while the person cannot drive, bend fully or carry things safely. Most people leave hospital within one to three days, walking with crutches or a frame, and need help with washing their lower body, dressing, meals, shopping and housework.
Some of that help can come free from the NHS and West Sussex County Council, and the rest from family or a home care agency. The key is to plan it before the operation, not on the day of discharge. This guide sets out the recovery timeline, what help is needed and when, the equipment that makes a difference, and what private short-term care costs.
What is the recovery timeline after a hip replacement?
Recovery takes several months overall, but the heaviest need for help is in the first six weeks. The milestones below are from the NHS guide to recovering from a hip replacement and are typical, not guaranteed. Your surgeon’s advice comes first.
| When | What usually happens |
|---|---|
| Day of surgery or next day | Physiotherapists help the person start walking, with crutches or a walking frame |
| 1–3 days | Discharge home if the wound is healing and they can move about safely |
| Around 10 days | Stitches or clips removed, often by the GP practice nurse |
| First 6 weeks | Hip precautions, daily walking and exercises; no driving |
| 6–12 weeks | Follow-up appointment with the hospital team |
| At least 6 weeks | Driving, only once the doctor agrees |
| Several months | Full recovery; many people feel better than before the operation |
Older people, and anyone who lives alone or has other conditions such as arthritis in the other hip, heart problems or early dementia, often take longer. Plan for more help than you think, and scale it back.
Hip precautions to follow
The NHS advises people not to cross their legs, not to bend the hip more than 90 degrees, not to bend down to touch their feet or ankles, and to avoid low chairs and low toilets. These rules are exactly why ordinary tasks become hard. Putting on socks, getting into a bath, picking something up from the floor and getting out of a soft sofa all break them.
Care at home after hip replacement: what help is needed in the first weeks?
In the first two weeks most people need some help every day. The common gaps are:
- Personal care: washing feet and legs, getting in and out of the shower safely, putting on socks, shoes and lower clothing.
- Getting up and going to bed: managing a raised bed height and keeping the leg in the right position.
- Meals: carrying plates and drinks is hard while using crutches.
- Housework and laundry: vacuuming, changing beds and loading a washing machine all involve bending.
- Shopping and transport: no driving for at least six weeks, which includes getting to follow-up appointments.
- Pets and the garden: dog walking and bending to feed pets are easy to overlook.
What people get wrong is assuming a spouse can cover everything. An older husband or wife may manage meals but struggle to help with washing, and lifting a leg into bed can strain their own back. Our guide to what personal care involves explains what a trained carer does.
Equipment to have ready before the operation
The hospital occupational therapist or physiotherapist will talk to your relative about managing daily activities before they go home, and often arranges equipment. The NHS suggests borrowing, hiring or buying useful items such as a raised toilet seat or a long-handled “grabber”. Other items commonly recommended include:
- a sock aid and a long-handled shoe horn
- a perching stool for the kitchen or bathroom
- furniture raisers so a favourite chair or the bed is high enough
- a toilet frame or grab rail
- a trolley for carrying food and drink between rooms
In West Sussex, equipment is loaned free of charge through the Community Equipment Service to people who live permanently in the county, usually after a hospital or council assessment. Our guide to free equipment and OT assessments explains how that works.
Preparing the home
The NHS advice on preparing for a hip replacement recommends putting everyday items within easy reach, stocking the freezer with cooked meals, arranging transport and asking for help in advance. In practice:
- Move frequently used items to between waist and shoulder height.
- Clear trip hazards: loose rugs, trailing cables, clutter on the stairs.
- Check there is a firm, high chair with arms.
- If the bedroom and toilet are upstairs, think about whether the stairs are manageable in week one, or whether a bed downstairs makes more sense for a short time.
- Put a phone or personal alarm within reach. A personal alarm with a fall detector is worth considering for anyone who will be alone for part of the day.
- Book any private care before the operation date, as good agencies may not have immediate capacity.
NHS and council support: reablement
If your relative needs help when they come home, ask the ward about reablement before discharge. West Sussex County Council’s reablement service, the Regaining Independence Service, sends reablement assistants to help people relearn the skills to look after themselves, such as washing, dressing and preparing meals. It is short-term and free for the period of reablement the council identifies.
Under national regulations, councils in England cannot charge for intermediate care and reablement for the first six weeks. Whether your relative gets it depends on assessed need and local capacity. It is designed for people who are expected to regain independence, which makes it well suited to planned hip surgery.
If you are arranging support yourself, or reablement is not offered, contact West Sussex County Council’s Adults’ CarePoint on 01243 642121. Our guides to reablement care and care after hospital discharge explain the process in more detail.
What does private short-term care cost?
Many families top up NHS and council help with a home care agency for the first few weeks. Typical West Sussex rates in 2026 are shown below; they are indicative, and agencies set their own prices and minimum visit lengths.
| Type of care | Indicative cost | Suits |
|---|---|---|
| Visiting care | £28–£38 an hour | Morning wash and dress, evening help to bed |
| Two one-hour visits a day for a week | About £392–£532 a week | Someone with family nearby for meals |
| Sleeping night care | £210–£260 a night | Someone nervous about getting to the toilet at night |
| Live-in care | £1,400–£1,700+ a week | Someone living alone with little family support |
Ask agencies whether they take short-term packages, what notice they need to stop, and whether they can start on the day of discharge. See our home care costs guide for more detail.
Attendance Allowance is usually not payable for a short, planned recovery, because the care needs must normally have lasted six months. If your relative already had significant needs before surgery, use our free funding checker to see what they might be entitled to.
Warning signs after going home
Your relative’s discharge information will list warning signs and who to call. Take seriously any wound that becomes hotter, redder or starts leaking, a painful or swollen calf, a new severe pain in the hip, or a fall. Contact the ward, the GP or NHS 111 for advice. Call 999 for chest pain or sudden breathlessness.
Find care near you
Tell us your postcode and what you need help with. We pass your details to one vetted CQC-registered agency in your area — you are told who they are, and that they pay us a fee, before anything is sent.
Frequently asked questions
How long will my parent need care after a hip replacement?
Most people need daily help for the first two to three weeks and some help until around six weeks, when they may be cleared to drive. Older people or those living alone often need support for longer. Arrange care with a short notice period so you can reduce it as they improve.
Can someone live alone after a hip replacement?
Many do, but only with help in place for washing, dressing, meals and shopping in the early weeks. The hospital team will check they can move about safely before discharge. A personal alarm and a key safe reduce the risk for anyone alone overnight.
Is care after a hip replacement free?
Reablement from the council is free for up to six weeks if your relative is assessed as needing it, and equipment on loan through the Community Equipment Service is free for permanent West Sussex residents. Any private care you arrange yourself is paid for privately.
Should I book private carers before the operation?
Yes, if you already know family cannot cover the first fortnight. Agencies are more likely to have capacity with a few weeks’ notice. Tell the hospital what you have arranged, as it may affect discharge planning.
When can my mum go upstairs after a hip replacement?
The physiotherapist will usually practise stairs with her before she leaves hospital. If she is not confident, a temporary bed downstairs for the first week or two is a sensible option.
The Care Panel is an independent publication. We are not a care provider and are not regulated by the Care Quality Commission, because we do not deliver care. Always check a provider’s own CQC registration and inspection report before you commit.
Written and fact-checked by The Care Panel. Last updated September 2026. Sources: NHS: Recovering from a hip replacement and Preparing for a hip replacement; West Sussex Connect to Support (reablement and equipment); West Sussex County Council home loan equipment; The Care and Support (Preventing Needs for Care and Support) Regulations 2014. General information, not financial, legal or medical advice — figures are indicative and subject to change.