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If your loved one is not independent, the daily toilet can be a real challenge. However, knowledge and practice will make you become proficient in these activities over time. Here is our guide.
Daily toilet of a bedridden patient – brushing the teeth
For a able-bodied person, brushing your teeth is one of the simplest activities. Meanwhile, for many bedridden patients it is often simply impossible. It is important, however, that a patient with good hands should be encouraged to be as active as possible and only assist when needed. Each independent activity not only improves the well-being, but also has a rehabilitation significance.
In addition to the toothbrush and toothpaste, the kidney bowl and disposable bib will also help. If you are unable to brush your teeth on your own, do it for him by brushing his teeth in circular motions. If your client has an artificial jaw, remove it and clean it, and ask him to rinse his mouth with liquid. Often, the deposit also accumulates in the spaces between the teeth and cheeks, and a spatula wrapped in a compress will help to remove it.
Also remember that brushing your teeth is a good time to assess the condition of the patient’s oral cavity and check for mouth ulcers or thrush, for example.
Daily toilet of a bedridden patient – washing the head
Washing the head is much easier if we use a special inflatable pool. It not only facilitates the carer’s work, but is also much more convenient for the patient himself. Thanks to a special cutout, it is comfortable for both the mentee and the caregiver. To make your task easier, use a shampoo that does not lather profusely. It is much easier to rinse off such a shampoo. Remember to dry the patient’s hair thoroughly afterwards.
Daily toilet of a bedridden patient – washing the patient’s body
The skin of people lying down or immobilized for a long time has a tendency to chafing and irritation, which is why daily care is so important. There are two ways of washing a sick person: by using care products to be used with or without water. The choice of detergent is particularly important. It certainly cannot be ordinary soap as it dries out the skin. The soap has an alkaline pH which washes away the skin’s natural barrier – its hydro-lipid coat. The care agent must have a neutral pH of 5,5. It is also important not to use ordinary sponges, which are the habitat of bacteria, to wash the patient’s body. Meanwhile, even a slight abrasion, to which people lying down are very exposed, are open gates to the system. Therefore, use disposable washcloths instead of sponges. They are not only very hygienic, but also convenient to use.
Inform the sick person what you are going to do at the moment. We wash the parts of the body in a certain order – from the cleanest to the dirtiest. Also remember not to rub the skin of the sick person too much with a towel, try to do it gently. First, wash your eyes gently from the outer corners to the inner, and then the entire face.
After washing your face, you can move on to the chest or arms. Remember not to reveal the mentee’s entire body, but only the part of the body that you wash. This not only reduces the patient’s discomfort, but also protects him from getting cold. When washing your hands, cut off the affected person’s fingernails, if necessary. Finally, smooth their edges with a file so that the patient does not scratch his skin.
The next parts of the body are the abdomen, back and legs. When washing large parts of the body, a disposable pad can be especially helpful, thanks to which you do not get the mattress wet.
Then we wash our feet and – as in the case of the hands – if necessary – cut the nails.
Remember to apply an appropriate care product after washing your body. This keeps the skin moisturized and less prone to breakage. Preparations containing urea work particularly well in this role. It regulates the process of keratosis and peeling of the epidermis, softens the skin, making it less prone to cracks.
Daily toilet of a bedridden patient – toilet of intimate areas
One of the most difficult activities during washing is the toilet of the intimate areas. However, it is often even more difficult for a sick person than it is for you. Therefore, remember to do it with the greatest possible respect for its dignity.
When washing intimate areas, the swimming pool and disposable absorbent pad will be especially helpful. Use latex gloves and disposable washcloths. Also, remember to check the water temperature before washing. On the other hand, a washing foam is a great solution for removing dirt, which can be used without the use of water.
While washing, pay attention to whether there are any abrasions or burns in the intimate area. Also remember to protect the intimate area with an anti-chafing agent each time after washing. If the skin is not reddened, choose a cream with arginine, which accelerates the metabolism of the epidermis and therefore regenerates. Such a cream also allows the skin to breathe freely. If redness has already appeared, use a zinc oxide preparation that has a protective and regenerative effect, and additionally antibacterial, thus preventing infection of the lesions.
In dependent people, absorbent diaper pants are indispensable. It is worth making sure that the product is properly selected not only due to its size, but also to the degree of dependency and urinary incontinence.