Useful Tips on Caring for Your Bedridden Loved One

Can you imagine how painful this sort of situation can be? Try putting yourself in another man’s shoes and imagine a little more. Ask yourself, how decidedly worse it can become, if you also happen to be old and frail? Can’t get up, can’t move without help.

The feeling of being a burden and a source of unending trauma to your loved ones, multiplies. In fact, the sense of guilt will only increase as the days go by…

Read on for a little while longer, imagine what might go through the minds of even a loving son, a daughter, a wife or an inseparable friend? No matter how deep that love, it eventually becomes impossible even for them to grin and bear.

This traumatic situation has a profound impact on the bed-ridden man. It delays early recovery.

Like we said earlier, you can reduce, if not eliminate this disturbing sense of helplessness in the minds of the patient as well as care givers. Start by doing something positive every day to stay involved and to show you care. Aim to accelerate the healing process.

What to look for and when to help

Due to complete absence of movement:

Bed sores will appear

Depressive thoughts might set in

Back pain can be frequent

Disturbed sleeping patterns makes one wake up tired and listless

Loss of appetite will make food taste insipid

Related posts Promoting & Maintaining independence in Elderly: How Expert Nursing Care Helps?

1. Manage Bed Sores Like A Pro

Patient’s back is the most sensitive area and is prone to bedsores. Assist the patient to change position from left to right and vice-versa every hour or so. Seek doctor’s permission before you can move the patient. Massaging the patient’s back from time to time will prevent painful muscle cramps and minimize fluid build-up.

Also, take a preventive step to minimize the infections from settling in. Sponge and dry at least once a day. Sprinkling soothing antiseptic talc on the skin will be a great relief. It also presents another intimate moment to interact with the patient.

2. Everyone Wants To Feel Nice & Look Good

Personal hygiene and grooming play a key role in speeding up the recovery process. Apart from sponging daily, a change of clothes and underwear, the act of brushing teeth, combing hair, cutting nails when required, should become a routine activity. This increases confidence levels and helps the patient feel better.

3. A Clean Bed Helps To Rest Better

Apart from enhancing the feeling of well-being and keeping bacteria at bay, this helps the patient feel clean and fresh. A change of bed covers and pillowcases on a regular basis will also eliminate debris such as flakes and crumbs from frequent spills.

4. Adhere to Strict Feeding Times

Avoid feeding the patient when lying down flat, as this increases the risk of patient chocking and the food particles entering into the wind pipe. Make them sit up instead, and use a back rest to support the spine.

Don’t rush. Feed the patient at a slow pace. Offer food in small morsels and get him to chew well before swallowing. Help wash the food down with filtered water in a baby’s sipper bottle. Wipe the wet lips and mouth clean. Help gargle and wash hands after they have eaten.

5. Empathy Builds Trust

Since treatment periods in such conditions go on for a long time, it is critical as a caregiver to show patience and maintain a positive attitude. As the patient totally relies on you or someone else for even the smallest of things, even the act of asking for help feels like a big burden. The chances of being overwhelmed and breaking down will be very real and can be heartbreaking for everyone around. Reassuring and expressing this repeatedly, will show that you are committed to being by their side always. This will increase the comfort levels and put the patient at ease.

We live in a fast paced world, and it may not be possible for you to extend the kind of personal care and support the elderly deserve. Current work culture is far too demanding to make concessions even in times of extreme need. But don’t worry.

And don’t feel embarrassed to reach out for help either. HealthCare AtHOME offers trained nursing services to look after your loved ones, like they would their own family members. So relax.

For expert elderly care at home, you may reach out to us at 1800-102-4224.

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