Hi,
Sorry about your father's diagnosis, but lots of people his age and older get through the surgery ok. It's great if a person can have an advocate around during the hospital stay but if not...I suppose he'll be needing some help after he gets home. It depends on how fast he heals, if there are complications or not, what kind of urinary diversion is made. The surgery will knock the wind out of somebody for the first month but it is surmountable.
Have a look at our collection of tips from those who have been there, the Hospital Survival Guide:
blcwebcafe.org/hospitalsurvivalguide.asp
" and the "Post-Hospital Survival Guide"
blcwebcafe.org/posthospitalsurvivalguide.asp
for those receiving a continent diversion (internal pouch/reservoir), and post op tips:
blcwebcafe.org/postoptips.asp
Good luck learning the territory.
Wendy