Tips on Taking Care of Your Loved One at Home

One of the best things you can do to help to care for your loved one at home  is to make sure that this/her basic hygiene and grooming needs are being addressed. Helping your loved one clean and groom, keep up their morale and self-esteem.

 

This includes:

 

1. Bathing

The level of assistance depends on the stage of the patient. Some people can bath with little assistance, while others cannot do this anymore. In the last case, a bed bath every day is acceptable and equally refreshing.

 

2. Dental care

Again, some individuals may be able to brush their own teeth, while others may need help doing so.

 

If he/she is wearing dentures, it’s also very important to brush the dentures and soak it in water in a container during the night or sleeping time. The mouth needs to be rinsed.

 

3. Clothing

Why change their clothes, and they don’t get dirty anyway? Changing their beddings and clothing every day is critical as it helps prevent infection from soiled clothing.

 

4. Change his/her bed linens everyday

This may seem like a small thing, but to a bedridden patient, it makes a big difference. Their bedding can be soiled from dirt, baths, food, and other debris.

 

5. Fingernails and Toenails

The healing process can be a little itchy, which may lead to scratches that can be hurtful. Trimming the nails of the patient can, therefore, save them unnecessary pain.

 

6. Combing or Shaving

A good haircut is vital to keep away parasites such as bedbugs and lice that are attracted by unkempt hair. If the patient loved their hair long, commit to combing their hair as they loved it.

Looking good makes people feel better about themselves. These grooming activities will, therefore, not only help them feel healthy but good too.

 

7. Inspecting the skin

Look Out for early sign of Bedsores, that is redness

Bedridden patient care includes prevention of pressure sores, commonly known as bedsores. The sores result from sitting or sleeping in one position for a long time.

 

8. Diet / Feeding

Try to balance their diet / foods as requested. May prefer eating small bits of food spread throughout the day instead of specific times.

 

Keep them hydrated by helping them sip water / other favourite drink throughout the day.

 

Fruits, such as papaya or banana as tolerated to ease digestion and prevent constipation.

 

9. Step-By Step Instruction On How to Change a Patient’s Diapers

When taking care of a bedridden patient at home, you may have to change diapers when he is lying. This simple steps will make it easier for you and more comfortable for your loved one;

 

1. If he is wearing pants, pull them down completely instead of rolling them to his  ankles.
2. Carefully roll the patient to his side and peep for bowel movements and urine.
3. Undo the sides of the diapers, open it and cautiously fold it to contain the soiled part
4. Use wipes to clean all the dirt or a piece of cloth Lift his legs to reach all the soiled areas.
5. Now roll the patient on the other side and remove the diaper
6. Lay an open, new/clean diaper behind your loved one to allow him/her to roll easily on it.
7. Roll him/her to the diaper
8. Pull the diaper through his  legs to the front side and attach the fronts and sides of the diaper.
9. Put the used diapers in a grocery bag, seal, and dispose of.

 

10. Comfortable Environment

Our immediate surroundings play a huge role in our emotional well-being, so take a few moments to make sure that the individual’s environment is as comfortable as possible.

 

• Ensure the room is well-lit, with natural light if possible – sunlight is a natural disinfectant.
• Keep passage to the bathroom easy and free of clutter.
• Place the bed within reach of a nightstand with easy access to an alarm, phone, book, food, and water.
• Air the room out from time to time, to get rid of stale air and allow fresh air to circulate.
• Keep distractions to a minimum, especially during rest periods, to ensure that the patient will be able to get the sleep they need.

11. Care for Patient’s Mental and Emotional health

Take a few minutes each day just to sit down and chat with your loved one when he/she is not too tired. Being there for them and with them means during this time the world to the patient.

 

12. Employ Patience and Empathy

Caring for a loved one can be very difficult. Even with the best of intentions it can be easy to lose patience, not feel appreciated, or become a little overwhelmed. Here are some ideas on how to avoid or handle those feelings when they hit you:

 

• Understand that treatments and physical effects of cancers can really limit a person’s ability to perform normal physical activities. This can cause a great deal of anxiety, especially for people who have been independent up until now.
• Take time to communicate your feelings so you can both understand each other’s needs and goals better.
• Expect things to take longer than they would normally. Everyday tasks will require more energy from both your loved and yourself, and trying to rush things will only cause frustration and could even wind up hurting the patient.
• Watch for signs of fatigue in yourself, and understand your own limits. If you need to take a few moments for yourself to avoid potential conflicts or anger, it is better to do so than to lash out or nurse bad feelings.

Finding a way to remind yourself that you are there to help your loved one is a good way to start each day. Approaching the entire caregiving experience from a place of empathy and patience will help both you and your loved one in the long run.

 

13. Seek Help When You Need It

An important part of being a caregiver is knowing when you need to seek professional help to properly care for your loved one. If you are able, hire a nurse or another medical professional to help you with your caregiving duties. Keep an open line of communication with your loved one’s medical team too so that they can help you handle any complications as they arise.

 

Whether or not you are able to afford professional help, there are a number of support groups where caregivers can share ideas, tips, and stories about their own struggles. Sometimes, simply knowing that others are undergoing the same struggles can be enough to help you get through the days, weeks, and months. You can also learn from others’ experiences, which can ease the burden of feeling like you have to learn everything on your own from scratch.

 

14. Some help to relieve Constipation at home

• Drink more fluid.
• Add fruits, vegetables whole grains and other high-fibre foods to your diet.
• Eat prunes and/or bran cereal.

 

15. Keep Your Loved One Comfortable

Making sure the person is as comfortable as possible and helping them receive the palliative care to help them manage as best as they can during their remaining days. Being attentive to their needs and helping to prevent or reduce pain will go a long way during this time.

 

References

https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/constipation/diagnosis-treatment/drc-20354259

https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/diseases/4059-constipation/management-and-treatment

http://www.bccancer.bc.ca/nursing-site/Documents/3.%20Constipation.pdf