Care for the bedridden. How not to hurt him?

Proven content

Did your mom, dad or grandma come back from the hospital but are still bedridden? Do they require round-the-clock care? Do you know how to feed a sick person so that he does not choke, or how to raise him so as not to hurt him, and yourself? Here are 10 rules of thumb to make your life easier.

Prevent chafing

Spending most of the day in one position increases your body sweating considerably. If this condition is accompanied by rubbing of the skin against the fabric, pressure of underwear and increased body temperature under the cover, the patient can easily develop chafing. In areas that are particularly sensitive and prone to burns, such as skin folds in obese people, under the breasts in women or on the buttocks, use a barrier cream. If no redness has appeared, a prophylactic cream with arginine can be used, which accelerates the regeneration of the epidermis, leaves a protective layer, and yet allows the skin to breathe freely. When irritation occurs, the most effective solution is the preparation with zinc oxide, which also accelerates the regeneration of damaged tissue, and at the same time works aseptically. In the prevention of chafes and bedsores, attention should also be paid to adjusting the absorbent products to the needs of the resident.

When adapting an apartment, do not change everything at once

A chronically ill person at home means not only changing habits and lifestyle, but also the need to adapt the apartment properly. In most cases, simple facilities for the patient are sufficient. If it moves by itself, it’s best to get rid of rugs and unnecessary furniture that it can trip over. It is good for the rooms to have a similar layout – the habit contributes to the feeling of security. Wherever it is necessary, you can also install handles for standing up, and replace the bathtub with a comfortable shower cubicle in the bathroom. When your resident does not get out of bed, position the bed so that it can be accessed from both sides.

Be gentle, remember good communication and planning

In the daily care of a patient, it is extremely important that the basic activities become clear and repeatable for them. Therefore, before going to the toilet, you should prepare all the necessary items at your fingertips and find out in what mood and what needs the mentee has. Each activity that is performed should be communicated in advance, maintaining a constant dialogue with the patient. If possible, our touch should be gentle so as not to unnecessarily stress the person under our care. Only the necessary people should be in the room – there is no point in exposing the sick person to additional stress.

Take care of the safe handling of the sick person

Working with a sick person is often a physically demanding activity. Therefore, after prior training, it is good to get equipment that definitely speeds up and facilitates everyday care and rehabilitation activities. He belongs to, among others a ladder that allows the patient to pull himself upright. It is also important because the patient activates himself to act by using the strength of his own muscles. The boom placed above the bed is also used for similar purposes. You should also secure the sides of the bed – otherwise it may fall out, e.g. during sleep.

Change bed linen carefully

When changing the sick bedding, remember to take care of their safety and comfort. If possible, also do it quickly so as not to chill the patient’s body. You can, for example, cover it with a blanket. If he has difficulty breathing, it is best to keep two pillows under his head at all times, replacing the pillowcases one by one. In a bed with a headboard, it is best to lower it before changing the bedding, remembering to secure the opposite side of the bed so that the patient does not fall out. It is also a good idea to use hygienic liners that effectively protect against moisture and dirt.

Do not use sponges for care

Although healthy people use sponges on a daily basis, in the case of hygiene of bedridden patients, it is not the best solution. They dry for a long time, retain moisture and fragments of washed epidermis. As a result, they are an ideal habitat for the development of fungi and bacteria. A much better idea will be to replace them with disposable washers, which are much more hygienic and easy to use. Additionally, they come in many varieties, for use with or without water formulations.

Wash your head with… head

Bedridden patients spends most of their time lying in bed. As a result, his hair is in constant contact with the pillow and is more prone to sweating. Pay constant attention to their freshness, thanks to which you significantly improve the quality of life of your loved one. In order to facilitate the care of a sick person’s hair, shortening may be considered. Remember also about the proper selection of a shampoo, a comfortable pool or a bowl for washing your head. When it comes to shampoos, it’s best to look for those that contain urea and vitamins B3, B5, B6, E and C.

Remember to moisturize your mouth

Unfortunately, many bedridden patients cannot take care of their own oral hygiene, so it is natural to help with oral hygiene. However, this is not limited to brushing your teeth, but also taking care of the proper hydration of the oral cavity. Especially if the resident is unconscious, he or she feeds through gastrostomy or intravenously. In such cases, the mouth is excessively dry, exposing the mucosa to infections. Check with your doctor what agents to use in such cases, it is often helpful to chew on gluten-free candies, ice cubes, chew sugar-free gum, or gargle with a methylcellulose solution – called artificial saliva. If there is no such necessity, it is better not to use dentures as well. They unnecessarily increase the risk of irritation of the mucous membranes.

Help the sick person breathe

By washing the patient’s back, you can also take care of opening the airway. Spending most of the day lying down negatively affects their patency due to the secretion of secretion in the bronchi. We pat the back gently, with the hand folded in the shape of a “boat” – from the bottom up. The optimal tapping time is 3-5 minutes, during this time the kidney and spine areas should be avoided.

Urinary incontinence – choose the products according to your needs

Urinary incontinence is a problem that does not have to be embarrassing and difficult for your client. There are many absorbent products and diaper pants available on the market. Unfortunately, often the choice is inadequate to the real problem. Too tight or too large, too little or too absorbent – remember that a larger diaper does not mean greater absorbency, and you should not shorten it and adjust it on your own. Proper selection of the product will save, among others problems with skin burns and redness, with leaks. For this reason, it is important to choose the product not only in terms of size, but also the level of urinary incontinence and the degree of independence. If you are able to go to the toilet, or you can help, start bladder training. Absorbent panties that look like regular underwear will be useful here.