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Caring
for Bedridden Seniors
How you can prepare for the challenges ahead.
L
osing one’s mobility is a dire thing to happen to anyone
and when it happens to a senior citizen, it can be trying on
everyone.
A
bedridden senior has the same needs as anyone else. But he will need full-time
care and attention, which requires a fair bit of self-sacrifice and challenges
ahead for both the caregiver, as well as the patient.
The
important thing to remember is that it is the patient’s body that has become
inactive and not the mind. The worst thing you can do is to treat a bedridden
patient as if he were moribund.
A
bedridden senior not only needs to be comfortable, kept clean, and well
nourished. He also needs to be encouraged and supported emotionally. It’s not
easy on anyone–least of all the patient–and a whole lot of patience and tender
loving care needs to be shown in order to create an environment that is
mutually beneficial and healthy.
Caring
for them
It’s
tough to see your parents or grandparents grow old, fall sick, and become
bedridden. Here are some basic yet essential things you can do to help improve
their quality of life:
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Comfort should
be your primary concern and this means proper support should be provided for
the patient’s back and joints.
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Cleanliness is
equally important. A daily bath and grooming session does wonders for personal
hygiene, as well as self-confidence. The bedding should also be changed daily
to ensure a clean sleeping area. A clean, fresh, and attractive room with good
ventilation at a comfortable temperature and adequate lighting are essential
for a better sense of well-being.
•
Keep a written
record of the patient’s appetite, bowel movements, body temperature, pulse, and
respiration in case the medical practitioner needs to know such data.
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Look out for
bedsores or skin ulcers that occur on skin areas that are constantly under
pressure. The skin tends to first become tender and painful, until open and
infected sores finally break out. To avoid bedsores, always keep the skin dry
and clean, smooth out the bed sheets, and change the patient’s position every
two hours.
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Another danger
caused by inactivity is blood clotting. When a patient remains immobile for
long periods of time, there is a danger that blood will pool in the veins,
leading to blood clots that may travel along the bloodstream to major organs
and cause a stroke or death
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