A joint replacement is one of the few hospital stays you can actually plan for. The date is set weeks ahead, which means there is time to get the house sorted before you come home on a walker, sore and unable to bend or reach the way you used to. Families across Surrey and the Fraser Valley tell us the same thing afterwards: the setup took one afternoon, and it was the difference between a calm first week and a stressful one. Here is what to organise, room by room.
The short version
- Do the setup before surgery — not on discharge day, when everyone is tired and nobody wants to be out shopping.
- The bathroom matters most — the toilet and the tub are the two hardest daily tasks, and both have simple fixes.
- Plan to live on one level — if the bedroom is upstairs, decide early whether you will move downstairs for a few weeks.
- Rent the big items, buy the small ones — most bathroom aids cost about the same as a month of renting them.
- Follow your care team's list first — your surgeon, physiotherapist or occupational therapist knows your procedure and your restrictions.
Start the setup before surgery day
Most people leave hospital after a hip or knee replacement faster than their families expect, and they come home with restrictions on how far they can bend, twist or put weight through the new joint. Your surgeon or occupational therapist will tell you exactly what yours are — that part is not something to guess at or read off the internet. What you can do in advance is make sure that whatever those restrictions turn out to be, the house is not fighting you.
Aim to have everything installed and tested a week before surgery. That gives you time to swap something that does not fit your bathroom, and it lets you practise with a walker while you are still steady on your feet.
Hospitals in the Lower Mainland usually run a pre-op class or send an equipment list home with you. Bring that list when you shop — it saves buying something you will not use, and it tells the store what height and width you actually need.
The bathroom is the room to get right
If you only fix one room, fix this one. A standard toilet sits low, and lowering yourself onto it and pushing back up is exactly the movement that is hardest after a hip or knee replacement. A bathtub is worse — stepping over a tub wall on one good leg is how people end up back in emergency.
- Raise the toilet. A raised seat with arms adds height and gives you something to push up from. Adjustable models let you dial in the height rather than guessing.
- Do not step over the tub. A transfer bench straddles the tub wall so you sit down outside the tub and slide across.
- Sit to shower. A shower chair or stool means you are not balancing on a wet floor while you wash.
- Add something to hold. Grab bars belong on the wall studs. Suction-cup rails are not a substitute for a properly mounted bar.
- Clear the floor. Bath mats with curled edges and loose towels are trip hazards when you are shuffling with a walker.
We wrote a longer, spot-by-spot walkthrough of this in Bathroom Safety for Seniors, and the full range is in our bathroom safety collection.
How you will get around
Nearly everyone goes home with a walker. What comes after it depends on the procedure and how recovery goes, and your physiotherapist will be the one to tell you when to change. Have the first stage ready before you leave for the hospital.
A walker, first
Two hands on the frame, weight off the new joint. A model with a seat means you can stop and rest partway down the hall or at the end of the driveway.
A cane, later
Once your care team says you are ready to move off the walker. Height matters — set correctly, your elbow should be slightly bent when your hand rests on the grip.
A chair, for distance
Useful for the first follow-up appointments or a family outing, when walking the length of a hospital corridor or a mall is more than you want to take on.
Not sure which frame suits you? Our guide to choosing between a walker and a rollator explains the difference, and you can compare models in the walkers and rollators collection.
Build a recovery zone you barely have to leave
Pick one chair and one spot, and bring everything to it. The goal is that you are not getting up fifteen times an hour to fetch a phone charger or a glass of water — every one of those trips is a chance to twist awkwardly or catch a foot on something.
The chair
Firm, with arms, and high enough that your hips are not below your knees when you sit. A dining chair often works better than a deep sofa. Add a cushion rather than sinking into something soft.
Everything within reach
Phone, charger, water, medication, remote, tissues, a book. A rolling overbed table parks over a chair or bed and moves with you, which beats a side table you have to lean sideways to reach.
If the bedroom is upstairs, have the conversation now rather than at the front door. Some families set up a bed in the living room for a few weeks; others find the stairs manageable once a physiotherapist has taught them the technique. Either is fine — deciding in advance is what matters.
Clear the floor and fix the lighting
This is the free part of the list, and it is the part people skip. A walker is roughly 25 inches wide and does not go around things gracefully.
- Roll up loose rugs and runners, or tape the edges down properly.
- Move cords and charger cables out of walkways.
- Widen the path from bed to bathroom — move a side table, shift a chair.
- Put a lamp or a plug-in night light on the route you will take at 3am.
- Move everyday dishes and food to counter height so nothing lives on a low shelf.
- Arrange for someone to handle pets, laundry and the driveway for the first couple of weeks.
Before surgery, walk the route from your bed to the bathroom to your recovery chair. Anywhere you have to turn sideways, step over something or squeeze past furniture is somewhere to fix while you still can.
Rent or buy?
A joint replacement recovery is a defined stretch of time, so this question comes up for almost every family. The short answer is that it depends on the size of the item.
| Item | Short recovery | Ongoing need |
|---|---|---|
| Hospital bed | Rent — it is bulky, and you may only want it for a few weeks | Buy, once it is clear the bed is staying |
| Wheelchair or transport chair | Rent, if it is only for appointments | Buy, and get it fitted properly |
| Walker or rollator | Buy — low cost, and most people keep using it | Buy |
| Bathroom aids | Buy — usually cheaper than renting for a month | Buy |
| Most families RECOMMENDED | Rent the big items, buy the small ones | Keep what you use every day |
You can see what we keep available in the rental collection, or call and we will tell you what makes sense for your situation and your timeline.
Who might help pay for it
This one needs careful wording, because coverage depends entirely on your own plan and circumstances. MSP does not generally fund home mobility and bathroom equipment. Extended health plans often do cover some of it, and depending on how the injury or condition arose, WorkSafeBC, ICBC or Veterans Affairs Canada programs may be involved. None of that is automatic, and we cannot tell you what your plan will approve — your insurer or benefits provider is the one to ask, ideally before you buy.
What we can do is give you an itemised receipt and the product documentation most claims ask for. We also offer 0% financing if you would rather spread the cost while a claim is being sorted out. For more on how public coverage works in BC, see Does MSP Cover Medical Equipment in BC?
Equipment we carry for joint replacement recovery
Triumph Essentials Walker with Seat
300 lb capacity, 5" front wheels so you are not lifting the frame with each step, plus a padded seat and backrest for resting. Cane holder and cup holder included; folds for the car.
Raised Toilet Seat with Arms
Three height settings — 2", 4" and 6" — with integrated armrests to push up from. Tool-free locking clamp fits most standard and elongated toilets, and lifts off for other household members.
Sliding Bath Transfer Bench
Straddles the tub wall so you sit outside the tub, lift your legs in and slide across on the seat track. Height-adjustable legs, suction-cup feet and a corrosion-resistant frame.
Drive Overbed Table, Non-Tilt Top
Keeps meals, medication and a phone within reach without twisting. Flat non-tilt top, adjustable height column and a chrome caster base that rolls under most standard and adjustable bed frames.
Your quick checklist
- Bring your hospital equipment list when you shop
- Raised toilet seat fitted and tested
- A safe way to bathe without stepping over the tub
- Walker ready and adjusted to your height
- Recovery chair chosen, with everything within reach
- Sleeping arrangements decided if stairs are a problem
- Rugs, cords and clutter cleared from your walking route
- Night lighting on the path to the bathroom
Common questions
How long will I need a walker after surgery?
That is a question for your surgeon or physiotherapist — it depends on the procedure, your weight-bearing instructions and how your recovery goes. What we would suggest is having a walker ready and adjusted before surgery day, and waiting for your care team's go-ahead before moving to a cane.
Do I need a prescription to buy this equipment?
No. You can buy walkers, raised toilet seats, transfer benches and overbed tables directly from us in the showroom or online. If you plan to claim on extended health insurance, your insurer may ask for a letter of necessity from your doctor or occupational therapist, so it is worth checking their requirements first.
Should I rent the bathroom equipment for a short recovery?
Usually it is not worth it. A raised toilet seat or a shower chair often costs about what you would pay to rent it for a month, and plenty of people keep using them long after the recovery is over. Bigger items like a hospital bed or a wheelchair are where renting saves real money.
Can you deliver and set things up before my surgery date?
Yes. Our own team delivers and sets up across Metro Vancouver and the Fraser Valley, so you are not assembling a transfer bench the night before surgery. Call or text us with your surgery date and we will book a delivery well ahead of it.
Can I try things out before deciding?
Please do. Come to the showroom at 12987 80 Ave in Surrey and walk with a few different walkers, sit on the transfer bench, and check the toilet seat height against what feels comfortable. It takes twenty minutes and saves a lot of second-guessing.
Surgery date already booked?
Bring us your hospital equipment list and we will help you work through it — rent, buy, or a mix of both. Visit the showroom at 12987 80 Ave, Surrey, or call or text us anytime.
Call 604-240-2450 See bathroom safety aidsThis article is general information, not medical advice. Follow the guidance of your doctor, nurse or occupational therapist for your specific situation.
