What to Have at Home Before Knee Replacement Surgery (The Real Checklist)

The hospital sends you home from total knee replacement surgery with a one-page handout and 90 minutes of accumulated post-op exhaustion. You arrive home to discover your toilet is too low, your couch is too soft, your stairs don’t have a handrail on the right side, and you can’t reach anything in the upper kitchen cabinets without putting weight on a leg that’s currently swollen and bandaged.

Set up before the surgery and the first four weeks of recovery are dramatically easier. This is the realistic checklist — what surgeons’ offices say to do, what physical therapists actually wish patients had at home, and what costs you can avoid by planning ahead.

The setup window: 2-3 weeks before surgery

Don’t wait until the day before. You’ll be sore from pre-op appointments and busy with last-minute work and family handoffs. Two weeks out is the right time to get the gear in place and practice using it. AAOS (American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons) post-op guides consistently recommend home prep at least 2 weeks ahead.

The bathroom (highest priority)

You’ll use the toilet 6-10 times a day. Sitting and standing from a standard toilet seat (15-17 inches) requires deep knee flexion and significant quadriceps strength — both compromised after surgery. The fixes:

• Raised toilet seat with armrests. Adds 4-5 inches of height plus armrest support for transfers. $40-80. The single most important item on this list. Either clamp-on (works on most toilets) or full toilet replacement frame.
• Toilet safety frame if your toilet’s wall configuration doesn’t allow a wall-mounted grab bar. $40-100, no installation.
• Grab bar at the toilet, mounted into a stud, if you have an adjacent wall. See best grab bars for the bathroom.
• Shower chair or bench. $40-100. Standing in a shower for 10 minutes on a post-op knee is not happening. A bench transforms shower time from impossible to manageable.
• Handheld showerhead. $25-50. Pairs with the shower bench. Many hotels and standard installations don’t have one — install before surgery.
• Grab bar at shower/tub entry. Vertical bar, into a stud. Critical for safe entry.
• Non-slip bathmat outside the shower.
• Non-slip strips or mat inside the shower.
• Long-handled bath brush and sponge — reaching your feet is hard for the first few weeks.
• Long-handled shoehorn. $10-20.

Getting around: walking aids and seating

• Walker (front-wheeled or rollator). The hospital may issue one; confirm before counting on it. A rollator with seat is often preferable for the second and third week as you gain mobility. See walker vs cane vs rollator.
• Cane or trekking pole for weeks 3-6 as you transition off the walker.
• Sturdy chair with armrests as your “main” sitting place. A low soft couch is unusable post-op — you can’t stand from it. A firm dining chair with armrests works; a recliner is even better. A lift chair (powered recliner that helps you stand) is genuinely transformative if budget allows ($500-1,500).
• Bed setup: The bed needs to be the right height — mattress top at the back of the knee when standing. Too low = hard to get up from; too high = unsafe to get into. Bed risers ($15-30) add height; box spring removal lowers it.
• Bedside commode if the bathroom is far from the bedroom or if multiple nighttime trips would be a fall risk. $50-150.

Kitchen and meal prep

You won’t want to stand for 30 minutes preparing a meal in the first 1-2 weeks. Set up to minimize standing:

• Pre-cooked meals in the freezer. Cook double batches for 2 weeks before surgery and freeze portions. Or arrange meal delivery for the first 2 weeks.
• Easy snacks at counter level: nuts, fruit, cheese, energy bars. No reaching needed.
• Move frequently-used items to counter or low cabinet level before surgery. Coffee maker, mug, plates, snacks — all at waist height.
• Reaching tool / grabber. $15-30. Essential for retrieving anything you dropped without bending.
• Lightweight pot/pan you can lift with one hand. Cast iron is out for a few weeks.
• Water bottle with handle for hydration tracking.
• A stool at the sink for standing dishwashing without sustained weight bearing.

The bedroom

• Bed at the right height (above).
• Pillows for elevation. The surgical knee should be elevated above heart level for sleeping in the first 1-2 weeks to control swelling. Two or three firm pillows under the calf (not directly under the knee — that strains the joint). A “leg elevation pillow” (foam wedge) does the job better, $30-60.
• Cold therapy unit (CryoCuff or similar). $150-300. Continuous ice via a wrap that circulates cold water from a small cooler. Far more effective than bagged ice for post-op swelling. Often rentable through the surgeon’s office.
• Nightstand within arm’s reach for medications, water, glasses, phone.
• Lamp with switch within reach from bed.
• Phone (cell or landline) within reach.
• Bell or call alarm if your caregiver sleeps in another room.

Living areas

• Clear pathways from bedroom to bathroom, kitchen, and living area. Width of 36 inches to accommodate a walker.
• Remove all throw rugs. Trip hazards with a walker.
• Tape down or reroute cords.
• Nightlights on every path you’ll travel after dark.
• Charging station for phone and any wearables at your main sitting location.
• Side table within reach of your main chair: water, remote, pain medication on schedule, snacks, book/tablet.

Clothing and compression

• Loose-fitting, easy-on clothes for the first 2 weeks: elastic-waist pants, slip-on shoes (the surgical leg can’t bend enough to tie a shoe normally), button-front shirts, zip-up jackets. No skinny jeans, no lace shoes, no over-the-head shirts for the first week.
• Compression socks. $20-50 per pair. Knee-high, graduated compression (15-20 mmHg or as your surgeon prescribes). Critical for DVT prevention in the first 2-3 weeks. Get at least 3 pairs. See best compression socks after surgery.
• Sock aid (device that helps you put on socks without bending). $10-25. Cheap and saves significant struggle.
• Long-handled dressing stick.

Pain management supplies

• Acetaminophen as the foundation of pain management (per surgeon’s instructions).
• Topical pain relief (diclofenac gel, lidocaine patches) per surgeon’s clearance.
• Stool softener — opioid pain medications cause severe constipation. Most surgeons prescribe a stool softener prophylactically; have it ready.
• Pill organizer with timer alarms for medication schedules.
• Calendar or whiteboard for tracking medication times, PT exercises, and home care visits.
• Pen and notebook for jotting questions for the surgeon’s follow-up calls.

Caregiver coordination

You need someone with you for at least the first 48-72 hours after discharge, ideally longer:

• Confirm who is staying with you and for how long. Most patients need help for 1-2 weeks for transfers, meal prep, medication management, and trips out of the home.
• Set up rides for the first 4-6 weeks for PT appointments and follow-ups (driving with a surgical right knee isn’t cleared until your surgeon approves).
• List of contacts taped to fridge: surgeon’s office, primary care, pharmacy, PT, family contacts, neighbor with spare key.
• If you live alone, arrange daily check-ins by phone or visit for the first 2 weeks.

Pre-op exercises (“prehab”)

The stronger you are going in, the faster recovery. Most surgical practices recommend 2-6 weeks of pre-op exercises:

• Quadriceps strengthening (straight-leg raises, quad sets)
• Glute bridges
• Heel slides for range of motion
• Walking 20-30 minutes daily
• Upper body strengthening (you’ll need arms to transfer)

A pre-op PT session can prescribe specific exercises for your situation. Many insurance plans cover it.

What to skip

• Stair-climbing rentals. Most patients climb stairs slowly within the first 1-2 weeks with PT guidance — a stairlift is rarely needed unless the home setup is uniquely problematic.
• Hospital bed. Most patients can use their regular bed at the right height. The exception is significant pre-existing mobility limitation.
• Expensive recovery garments and supplements. Stick to what the surgeon recommends. Most “recovery-accelerating” supplements are unproven.

Medicare and insurance coverage

Medicare Part B covers some of this as durable medical equipment with a prescription: walker, commode, hospital bed (if medically necessary), and some shower equipment. NOT typically covered: raised toilet seat, grab bars (home modification), most clothing aids.

Many Medicare Advantage plans include a home recovery benefit for joint replacement — ask your surgeon’s office about coverage before purchasing.

FSA and HSA accounts cover most of the items in this list.

FAQ

How long until I’ll need all this equipment?

The raised toilet seat, shower bench, walker, and ice are needed from day 1 of discharge for 4-8 weeks typically. Grab bars are permanent additions. Reaching tools, sock aids, and clothing accommodations cover the first 4-6 weeks.

Can I rent instead of buying?

Some items (CryoCuff, hospital bed, knee scooter) rent well. Most of the rest (raised toilet seat, shower bench, walker tips, compression socks) are cheap enough that purchase is simpler.

What’s the realistic budget for the full setup?

$400-800 if you DIY most installations and buy mid-range equipment. Cheaper if you can borrow items from friends/family. More if you add a lift chair or CryoCuff unit.

I’m having a hip replacement — is this list the same?

Mostly yes. The main difference: hip replacement has specific motion restrictions (no bending over 90 degrees, no crossing legs) that make some items (raised toilet seat, sock aid, long shoehorn, dressing stick) even more critical. Your surgeon will provide a hip-specific precautions handout.

What about the first 24 hours after discharge specifically?

Have everything you need within 5 feet of your designated chair: water, meds, snacks, phone, remote, ice. Plan to do nothing else. Sleep, ice, take meds on schedule, do the prescribed ankle pumps. Don’t try to be productive; pre-positioning everything is what makes that possible. For wound care signs to watch for in the first weeks, see signs of wound infection after surgery.