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Elderly parents
Original poster

Dad age 86 private elective hip replacement

105 replies

Apple04 · 15/10/2026 12:20

My Dad has been a very active man his entire life but his arthritis has got significantly worse over the last year. He has been on an NHS waiting list for 6 months for the assessment appointment and it would likely be another few months wait for the procedure. He has decided to go privately and they have offered him a slot in 3 weeks. He is desperate to get it done. I’m really concerned about the aftercare. As it’s private I suspect they won’t provide it the way the NHS does? This hasn’t been discussed with him. He lives with my mum who also has mobility issues. There house has bedrooms upstairs. I’m an hour away with a full time job and young child. Can anyone provide advice on care in the private sector?

OP posts:
EmeraldRoulette · 15/10/2026 12:28

If he’s paying privately, then he’s got to pay for staying in the hospital
I would’ve thought that would make them less likely to ask him to leave before he’s ready? Also, if he can pay for care and private physio, then he can have those things?

It sounds like you’re more concerned that it’s happening privately. I would be more concerned if it was happening on the NHS.

I haven’t seen anyone experience this surgery in their 80s, my mum’s friend had it in her 70s, but she was very fit and well. She’s very pleased with it.

BruFord · 15/10/2026 12:27

My Dad (88) fell over the summer and had an emergency hip replacement. I'd suggest that they look into local homes that provide rehabilitation care. My Dad went to one for three weeks - he was supposed to go for six but decided that he was fit enough to go home early. The physios came daily to do his exercises with him, and I think it made a big difference.

Edit to say that personally, I think that's the safest option given your Dad's situation. Your Mum can't really look after him and neither can you. I felt alot better knowing that my Dad was safe and being looked after immediately post-surgery.

WarmAleAndBlackLabrador · 15/10/2026 12:25

I don't think there is much difference apart from the timescale. I was quite shocked that after my dp paid £££ for surgery, they were sent home with a link to an app for physiotherapy exercises as aftercare, which was a bit crap.

Original poster
Apple04 · 15/10/2026 12:24

Did you need to provide any care? How quickly was she mobile again?

OP posts:
CarbonelKitten · 15/10/2026 12:22

My mum recently had one, she's 83 and there was no real aftercare from the NHS to be honest - she was sent home very quickly.