Recovery at Home
If you or someone you love is coming home after a hip or knee replacement, these are the things that help most in the first weeks: a higher toilet, a seat in the shower, a rail to get out of bed and a way to reach without bending.
How to choose
It is easier to set up before you go into hospital, so the house is ready on the day you come home. Your surgeon or physio will tell you what applies to you, such as how low you can sit after a hip replacement. Bring that advice to this page.
The pack at the top puts the three most-used aids in one order. Below it are raised toilet seats, over toilet frames, shower chairs, bed rails, grabbers, cushions, crutches and wheelchairs, each sold on its own as well.
For a room by room checklist, read our guide to recovering at home after a hip replacement. If something you set up turns out not to be needed, it can come back within 30 days, unused and in its original packaging.
Post-Hospital Pack
Most people coming home from hospital need help in the same three places. We've put them together so you don't have to figure it out.
Home from Hospital Pack
Handles and a higher seat at the toilet, a chair to shower sitting down, and a rail to push up from in bed, in one order. Had a hip or knee replacement? See all our packs in Starter Bundles.
What's included
- Over toilet aid with padded seat
- Shower chair with arms and back
- Adjustable bed assist rail
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Individual Products
The pack covers the essentials, but everyone's recovery is different. Browse what's here and add what makes sense for you.
Adjustable Bed Assist RailClips to the bed base, something solid to hold when getting in and outFits single to king beds
$69.99
Shower Chair with Arms & BackSolid arms to hold and a back to lean against, for a comfortable, confident showerSeat 33 × 40cm, holds 110kg
$89.90
Raised Toilet Seat with LidRaises your toilet 10cm so sitting and standing takes less effort. Lid included, fits most toiletsAdds 10cm of height, holds 130kg
$80
Over Toilet FrameFits over most toilets and gives you something solid to hold as you sit and stand48cm between the arms, holds 110kg
$120
Over Toilet Aid with Padded SeatSolid arms to push up from and a padded seat that makes the toilet genuinely comfortable.51cm between the arms, holds 130kg
$199
Bath Transfer BenchStraddles the bath wall so you can slide in safely. No stepping over the edge required.Seat height 46 to 58cm, holds 110kg
$199
Bath Board Bench Seat with HandleSits securely across the bath so getting in and out is easier, safer, and independent.Fits baths 36 to 58cm wide inside
$100
Long Reach GrabberReach the floor, the back of a shelf, the remote, without bending or asking for help75cm or 90cm long
$49
Dressing StickHooks a zip, pulls up trousers, pushes off shoes, and you do it all yourself68cm long
$42
Toilet Confidence BundleA raised toilet seat and a surround frame with handles, made to be used together2 items in one set
$209
Powered Bath Lift Chair, 140 kgLowers you into the bath and lifts you back out, at the press of a buttonLowers to 8cm, holds 140kg
$779
Standard Steel Wheelchair, 50cm SeatA steady, well priced first wheelchair for days out, with someone else doing the pushing44.5cm between the arms, holds 120kg
$349
Lightweight Aluminium Wheelchair, 46cm SeatLighter to lift and easier to store away. The everyday chair for getting out regularly46cm seat, holds 110kg
$449
Travel Wheelchair, 41cm SeatOnly 11kg and narrow enough for a plane aisle. Comes with its own carry bag41cm seat, holds 100kg
$359
Deluxe Aluminium Transporter, 45cm SeatPadded seat, flip up arms and quick release wheels. Built for the longer days out45cm seat, holds 100kg
$499
Knee WalkerRest the injured leg on the padded platform and steer. Far steadier than a pair of crutchesKnee pad 41 to 57.5cm high, holds 120kg
$380
Coccyx Wedge CushionA U shaped cut out takes the pressure off your tailbone when you sit down45cm, 50cm or 55cm wide
From $98
Seat Wedge CushionTilts your hips forward a little, so you sit up straight without having to think about it40cm, 45cm or 50cm wide
$125
Contoured Coccyx CushionContoured, with a coccyx pad you can take out or put back as things change44cm or 50cm wide
From $133
Contoured Back Support with Gel PadFills the gap behind your lower back, with a gel pad you can warm or cool36cm wide, gel pack included
$130
Leg and Knee Support CushionSits between your knees overnight and stays put there, thanks to the Velcro leg strap
$100
Underarm Crutches, Adult PairThe standard pair, height adjustable with a printed scale so setting them up is quickHolds 130kg, sold as a pair
$110
Ergonomic Forearm Crutches, Adult PairShaped left and right grips and a wide cuff, made for using crutches long termHolds 127kg, left and right grips
$119
Wide Over Toilet Aid, 140kgHeight, arms to push up from and a wide seat, and it doubles as a commodeHolds 140kg
$288
Raised Toilet Seat with Lid, 15cmFifteen centimetres of extra height, five more than our standard raised seatAdds 15cm of height
$120
Wide Aluminium Commode, 225kgA 60cm wide seat rated to 225kg, and it works in the shower as well60cm seat, holds 225kg
$339
Bedside Chair CommodeIt looks like a cushioned armchair. The seat lifts to reveal the commode underneath45cm seat, holds 150kg
$479
Padded 3 in 1 Shower Chair CommodeOne padded frame that works as a commode, an over toilet aid and a shower chair46cm seat, holds 250kg
$550
Rotating Shower StoolThe top turns, so you can reach the taps and your back without twisting your hips
$139
Coccyx Ring CushionAn oval ring with an open centre, so the sore spot takes no weight when you sit45cm or 50cm wide
From $90
Questions people ask
Do I need a raised toilet seat after a hip replacement?
Many people are advised to avoid low seats for the first weeks after a hip replacement, and a standard toilet is low. A raised toilet seat lifts it by 10 or 15cm. If you also want armrests to push up from, an over toilet frame gives you both. Check the height your surgical team recommends.
Do I need a shower chair after a knee replacement?
Standing for a whole shower can be tiring in the first weeks, and turning on a wet floor is where people feel least steady. A shower chair with arms and a back lets you sit to wash and gives you something to push up from. Set it up before you go into hospital.
Crutches or a knee walker: which do I need?
Crutches suit most people who are allowed to put some weight through the leg. A knee walker suits you if you need to keep all weight off one foot or ankle, because your knee rests on a padded platform while you push along. Ask your physio which one suits your operation.
Should I set up my home before hip surgery?
Yes, it is easier before you go into hospital. Fit the raised toilet seat or frame, put the shower chair in place, add a bed rail if your bed is soft or low, and move everyday things to waist height. Then the first days home are about resting, not rearranging.
Can I return recovery aids I did not use?
Yes. If an item is unused and in its original packaging, you can return it within 30 days as a change of mind return. So you can set up for the first weeks of recovery and send back anything you did not need. Our returns page explains the steps and what it costs.
Help choosing
First week home, they can't put full weight on the operated leg yet
A 4-wheel rollator is the right first step. It's easier to move around with than crutches, and the built-in seat means they can rest when they need to, no need to find a chair. If crutches were sent home from hospital, a rollator takes over as weight-bearing improves.
View rollators →The shower and toilet are the two highest-risk moments of the day
A raised toilet seat and a shower chair are the two items OTs recommend most consistently after hip and knee surgery. The raised seat reduces how far they need to lower themselves, which is exactly what hip precautions require. The shower chair means no standing on a wet surface while balance is still off.
View bathroom safety →Bending and reaching below the knee isn't possible right now
A long-handled reacher and a sock aid are the two things almost every OT sends patients home with after hip surgery. Hip precautions mean no bending past 90° for up to 12 weeks, these two items mean getting dressed independently from day one, without asking for help.
View daily living aids →Getting in and out of bed is harder than expected
A bed safety rail gives them a solid, fixed handhold for getting up, especially important if the bed at home is lower than the hospital bed. A leg lifter helps move the operated leg in and out of bed without straining or twisting through the hip.
View bedroom aids →Want everything sorted before they come home from hospital?
The first six weeks at home need four things covered: getting about, showering, using the toilet, and picking things up without bending. Our recovery range has an option for each, so you can choose what suits rather than buy a set.
View the recovery range →