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The ideal situation is when we are in good health throughout our lives. Unfortunately, this is not always the case. In a normalized and organized life, an accident, a serious operation or a chronic illness of a loved one can turn everything upside down. The necessity to take care of a seriously ill person causes us well-founded fears and anxiety. Can we or can we do it? Constant care and daily care takes a lot of time and requires reorganization of the current life. However, the difficulties associated with caring for a sick person can be significantly reduced if we properly prepare to receive the sick person at home. We will not only make our work easier, but also improve the psychological comfort of the patient, reducing his dependence on other people.
Preparation of a place for a sick person
Preparing a home for receiving a sick person depends largely on the state of the sick person. The house should be prepared differently for a person who can move independently in a wheelchair, or with a walking frame or crutches, and differently for a lying person. In the first case, rugs and unnecessary equipment should be removed first of all, so as not to create additional difficulties in independent movement. In a situation of permanent mobility disability, it is worth thinking about the architectural reconstruction of the apartment, the removal of barriers and the use of permanent improvements such as: widening the door, removing thresholds, mounting handles at the bathtub and toilet bowl, mounting a chair in a shower cabin. It is worth knowing that the Poviat Family Assistance Center or MOPS provide funding in such cases. Another important thing is the place for the sick person. The ideal situation is to be able to put the patient in a separate room. Otherwise, the patient’s bed must stand in a place that allows access to the patient from two sides and which, if necessary (rest, nursing activities), can be separated by a portable screen. The patient must also have access to a telephone, the ability to watch TV or use the Internet. Let’s also forget about a comfortable armchair for family and friends, so as not to exclude the sick person from family meetings and events.
Supply of additional equipment
Before admitting the sick person at home, one should also consider providing equipment that will improve the patient’s ability to function and facilitate the work related to the care of the sick person. The most important thing is the bed, in which the patient spends most of the time, and often does not get up at all. If we are dealing with a bedridden person who does not get out of bed, it must necessarily be a hospital-type bed. Such a bed on wheels allows access to the patient from two sides, which greatly facilitates care. It is of an appropriate height, 65 – 70 cm, which does not endanger the caregiver’s spine. It should also be broken into three (by the headrest and knees), preferably electrically controlled. It must also have barriers to protect the patient and a boom that allows the patient to change position. A rehabilitation bed can be rented in rehabilitation clinics or in a Social Welfare Center. Directly next to the bed, there should be a light table for the necessary items: medicines, telephone, drinks.
The rest of the equipment that may be helpful in caring for someone depends on the patient’s condition. It is worth considering a wheelchair, a toilet trolley (there is a built-in waste container in the seat), crutches, a balcony, a bath lift for a bathtub, a table-tray for a bed, a swimming pool or a duck. For people who can get to the bathroom on their own or with help, it is worth considering a toilet bowl cover, which makes it easier to meet physiological needs. We put non-slip mats in the bathroom or shower cubicle. Also remember about your comfort!
Choose functional and practical products for care activities:
- in large, stable packages
- having push-ups
- if wet wipes are used – it has a large surface area
- if the wiping absorbent material is tear-resistant,
- leaves no lint of material on the resident’s body
Provision of agents facilitating care
Another important element are specialist measures that make it much easier to care for the patient. The greatest danger in bedridden people is bedsores. It is better to apply anti-bedsore prophylaxis right away than to fight pressure ulcers later. Special mattresses and pillows, wedges and rollers made of polyuratene foam, inflatable limb bands, anti-bedsore patches, and cosmetics will help in the anti-bedsore prophylaxis. For people who have problems with incontinence and stool, an additional sheet of gummed flannel or absorbent disposable underlays will be needed. You will also need diaper pants, absorbent panties or urological inserts (different for women and men). Often, activities related to maintaining the patient’s personal hygiene must be entirely performed by the person who takes care of them. And in this area, it is worth considering measures to facilitate this. A sliding underlay placed under the sheet enables easy movement of the patient while washing or changing bed linen. The biggest problem is washing the sick head. This is where the pneumatic head washing bowl or a waterless head washing cap come in handy. You need a kidney bowl to brush your teeth. Using a sponge is unhygienic, a sponge that remains wet creates good conditions for the multiplication of bacteria and fungi, so it is worth considering the use of disposable washers. It is also worth getting wet wipes that gently cleanse the skin and soothe irritation.
Items that facilitate self-consumption of meals
For a seriously ill, weakened person, when their hands tremble, eating a meal on their own is a big problem. However, you should not feed the sick person (unless it is necessary), but make eating as easy as possible. In order not to change pajamas after each meal, you have to convince the sick person to use a bib. Appropriate plates are also necessary: plastic, keeping heat for a long time and with a high edge. The sliding mother placed under the plate will prevent it from moving. Sick people often have problems maintaining cutlery. The solution to this problem are Velcro-fastened cutlery holders or foam pads that prevent slipping. It is also worth thinking about the right mug. Cups with a nose cut when the patient cannot tilt his head or an adult cup with a mouthpiece.
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