Knee or hip replacement for a parent in India: planning from abroad

Choosing a hospital, understanding the estimate, preparing the house, arranging physiotherapy and timing your visit around a joint replacement.

By the Athnova Care team · Updated 2026-09-29

This guide is general information to help families organise care. It is not medical advice — follow your parent's doctor.

A planned operation is a gift

Unlike a fall or a heart attack, a joint replacement comes with notice. Use it. Families who plan the six weeks after the operation as carefully as the operation itself have a much easier time.

Before deciding

Ask the surgeon what the alternatives are and what happens if your parent waits.
Ask about their own experience with this operation.
Ask for a written estimate: implant, room, surgeon, anaesthesia, physiotherapy, medicines.
A second opinion is normal, and good surgeons expect it.

Insurance and money

Check the policy for joint replacement: waiting period, sub-limits, implant caps.
Ask the hospital’s insurance desk to apply for cashless pre-authorisation before admission.
Ask what is not covered — consumables are a common surprise.

Prepare the house before admission

A bed and a chair at the right height, on the ground floor.
A raised toilet seat and grab bars.
A walker, sized by the physiotherapist.
Clear walking paths and remove rugs.

Timing your visit

Many families fly in for the operation and leave a week later — just as the hard part begins. If you can come only once, ask the surgeon whether the weeks after discharge, when physiotherapy is daily and confidence is low, might be the better time.

Questions to ask about the hospital

How many joint replacements does the surgeon do in a year?
Is there an intensive care unit and a physician on site, for a patient with diabetes or heart disease?
When does physiotherapy start, and who provides it after discharge?
What is the usual length of stay?
Who do we call at night after discharge?

Health checks before surgery

The surgeon will ask for a pre-operative assessment: blood tests, an ECG, sometimes a heart or chest review. Sugar, blood pressure and any infection — including dental and urinary — are usually brought under control first. Give the team the complete medicine list, and ask which medicines to stop before surgery and when to restart them.

One knee or both

Some surgeons offer to replace both knees in one operation, others prefer two operations some weeks apart. Each has advantages, and the right choice depends on your parent’s health. Ask the surgeon to explain the reasoning for your parent in particular.

The first six weeks, week by week

Weeks 1–2: wound care, pain control as prescribed, walking with a walker, exercises several times a day.
Weeks 3–4: stitches or staples out; more walking; stairs with help.
Weeks 5–6: review with the surgeon; physiotherapy continues.

A general picture only. Your parent’s surgeon and physiotherapist set the actual plan.

After discharge

Physiotherapy as prescribed; arrange home visits in advance.
An attendant for the first weeks if your parent lives alone.
Wound checks and follow-up dates in the calendar.
Report fever, a hot swollen calf or a leaking wound to the surgeon at once.

Questions families ask

How long does recovery from knee replacement take?

It varies from person to person. Ask the surgeon what to expect for your parent and what help will be needed at home.

Is knee replacement covered by health insurance in India?

Most policies cover it after a waiting period, sometimes with a limit. Check the policy wording.

Should I be there for the surgery or afterwards?

If you can come only once, ask the surgeon. Many families find the weeks after discharge, when physiotherapy is daily, are when help is needed most.

Athnova Care tracks and coordinates care. It does not diagnose, prescribe or replace a doctor. In a medical emergency in India call 112.