Tips on caring for parent after ankle surgery (fracture)?

I would also be asking the surgeon what aftercare will be needed. It seems a bit bonkers that they're leaving you to figure all this out for yourselves, isn't it???

Poor mother - how is she feeling about all this? While it's true that it's lucky this happened when there were people about, it can be hard to see that sort of silver lining when you were so looking forward to a nice Christmas with your family :(

What does her physical therapist advise? Is she allowed to bear weight on the fractured side yet? I wouldn't think that a walker would be advisable until then.

This is not a venture for amateurs. Please get professional advice!

I assume she is eligible for doctor  PT. Take advantage of it.

Please advocate for her stay at a highly rated orthopedic rehab facility. She will receive more frequent physical therapy as well as occupational therapy. They are equipped to manage any post op pain or surgical complications. They will oversee her safe transfer to post op Dr appointments. Seniors have a high fall risk after returning home from surgery and require a professional Rehab setting. I wish you good luck!

I'm wondering why no rehab after this surgery, also?

So if the person did NOT have a relative willing to be their personal care attendant after the surgery (as Noviceatthis is going to be), then what happens to the person? Wouldn't they be an "unsafe discharge" to their home if they lived alone? Or because it's outpatient surgery, the "unsafe discharge" issue doesn't exist, as that is only applicable to a hospitalization?

Medicare's home health care isn't that extensive. My mother had her aortic valve replaced three years ago (at age 88). She had the newer TAVR (not open-heart). She got a nurse (LPN) who came in every few days at first and OT and PT. The rest of the time she was on her own (she did quite well; I had to stay with her for the first two days only).

So I don't understand what happens to people who don't have free in-home (relatives) support. Is it up to them to hire caregivers? (And what if they can't afford that?)

Why don't you sign her up for private pay at a rehab center/SNF? They will have the appropriate medical care there on site, and you and your spouse can take turns sitting with her and helping during the day. If she needs something during the night, the staff can help her.

She may be non weight bearing for a few weeks but she & the family should receive in home PT/OT to teach her (& the CGs) how to raise herself out of bed, on and off the toilet, how to get dressed & build upper body strength as well.
But what should happen vs what actually does happen is another story. And as you say, PT/OT at this time may not be Good utilization of resources. 
Let us know how your mother’s surgery went & if any resources were offered to you so we can learn from this.
Hope everything went well!

Yes, ER right when she slipped on the stairs. If it hadn't been Christmas, we wouldn't have been with her to rush to her aid. (She is normally a very active/fit/young 76 year old, so it's shocking to see her become more or less immobile.) . You can't have surgery on a broken ankle until the swelling goes down, per the ER doc and the orthopedic surgeon. They are doing it sooner than usual because we were able to get the swelling down. She's doing really well, considering.

I have no idea why this is outpatient surgery, but that's the reality. So has anyone had a situation in which Medicare covers home health after outpatient procedures? Even if it's not extensive, any help would be welcome...I plan to ask and then am prepared to look for some help (private pay) if necessary. Even though we are taking her in, I will need a break every once in a while.

I would ask the ortho if a knee scooter could be useful NOW! It would allow her to get around without so much assistance.

elderparenthelp.com/medicare-cover-cost-home-care-hospitalization

I would be in touch with her primary care physician TODAY about these issues, what can be scripted. The hospital where she is going to have the surgery should have a social worker on staff who can help you navigate this.

Thank you - surgery went well and I asked and received an order for a home health aid and PT. We will see how that goes. The protocol for this kind of surgery as outpatient possibly makes sense under normal circumstances - smart to avoid hospital acquired bacteria, etc. I'm glad to have her with me in lieu of her being alone at SNF, which are iffy. That said, the home health help needs to be more automatic for older patients. Even in your early 40s, it is no easy feat to pivot around on one foot with a walker to get to the toilet. Let alone mid to late 70s. Luckily she is in pretty good shape, but I can think of others like my MIL who aren't nearly as fit and who would have an even bigger fall risk.