When a bedridden person suffers from incontinence, additional protection is required both for the patient and for his or her bed.

For the patient, you will find incontinence briefs, such as ‘Attends’ or ‘Prevail’, that offer lots of aid; and to help preserve the mattress, there are products like mattress pads, incontinence pads, and mattress protectors available nationwide.

The use of these pads and protectors is an inexpensive and simple way to prevent serious damage to the mattress as well as to isolate moisture from the patient’s skin.

If you have a loved one, or take care of someone, who is bedridden and suffers from incontinence, you may already know about these products, but if you don’t, give them a try:

-    Vinyl or rubber supported mattress protector
Every bedding section of big department stores offers a wide array of mattress pads and protectors.  Some protectors are waterproof but others may not be; thus, make sure you thoroughly read the information on the package to chose one that works for incontinence.

Some mattress protectors that are supported by rubber have to be washed after every accident.  These protectors have a cloth top and a bottom that is backed with rubber, and while they are great to isolate moisture, they must be washed every time the patient has an incontinence episode.

There is another kind of mattress protector that consists of a bag with a zipper; it is made out of vinyl and slides over the whole mattress.  The vinyl protector is placed under a standard mattress pad and bottom sheet, and it can be cleaned with a disinfectant when an accident happens.

-    Incontinence pads
Hospitals use a type of disposable incontinence pads called “chux”, which offers great protection for patients and bed linens.

“Chux” are blue and are available through medical supply stores or the Web.  The green alternative to the “chux” is the washable bed pads, which can also be found at medical supply stores or online.

-    Rubber supported draw sheets
If your loved one, or the bedridden person you are caring for, is not able to leave the bed at all, there are special sheets called “draw sheets” that will help you lift and turn the patient in bed without hurting him or her, and yourself, in the process.

Draw sheets measure about 36″ x 70″ and are placed on the bed sideways.  Some types of these sheets are supported with rubber on the back, providing full protection for the patient, the linens, and the mattress.

These can be found at medical supply stores online.

All of these pads and supports can be used with a low air loss mattress or any other type of special mattress the bedridden patient requires to preserve his or her health and physical integrity.

If you liked this article, tell all your friends about it. They’ll thank you for it. If you have a blog or website, you can link to it or even post it to your own site (don’t forget to mention our Pressure Mattress website as the original source).

What would you do to pass the time if you were bedridden?

Let’s hope it doesn’t happen, but some of us may eventually find ourselves stuck in bed for a certain period of time or permanently due to health issues.

Even if the condition is very serious and the patient requires the help of things such as a mattress overlay, while in bed, life must go on and we must learn to view it in a different way and find new activities that enrich our days while bedridden.

Here we give you 8 interesting activities you or a loved one may consider if the time comes for you to stay in bed:

1.    Learn a new computer skill
There are hundreds, if not thousands; of programs you can use to learn computer skills such as typing, drawing or designing.

You can learn to use Photoshop, PowerPoint, or Excel like a pro, and you can even venture into the web page creation arena that is so ‘in’ right now.

2.    Write letters
This is a lost art.  Since the world got swallowed by the Internet, it is virtually unheard of people getting a letter in the mail.

You can spend some time actually writing a letter by hand to an old friend you haven’t seen in a while or even to one you see regularly.  Imagine what a surprise it will be for them to receive something that is not a bill in the mail.

3.    Learn a language
You have lots of time to listen to tapes and read books in the language you are learning.  You can even talk to native speakers on the Internet and rent DVDs in that language.

Learning a language will keep you mentally active and will give you the refreshing opportunity to learn about new cultures.

4.    Learn a craft
There are kits to learn any kind of craft you can imagine, for example, knitting, sewing, painting, making fabric dolls, jewelry, books, and cards.  You can also choose to learn to do calligraphy or scrap booking.

5.    Learn science
If you don’t like art too much, try science.  The website www.sciplus.com, for example, offers you a wide array of options to try small projects such as an electronics kit, a DIY bat habitat, a DIY kaleidoscope, and much more…

6.    Write a book
Everyone has a story to tell, and maybe yours has been stored in your memory for a long time because you never had the chance to put it on paper… until now.

If you don’t have a story in mind, how about writing down a book about the best family recipes that have been the delight of your loved ones for so many years?  Or how about writing a how-to guide about something you do very well?

7.    Take an online class
There are online courses about anything you can think of. These vary in length and difficulty, and some have a cost while others are free, like the ones Barnes and Noble offers.

8.    Browse the Web
If you like to browse the Internet, these are a few websites that will keep you amused for a long time:

-    To shop for handmade items by amazingly talented artists, go here: www.etsy.com.  You will find every kind of item here, from crafts, to food, to books, to clothes, to bags; and if you want to sell something, it offers very affordable fees.

-    If you like games, check out: www.shockwave.com and www.addictinggames.com.  Both sites are free and very friendly to use.

-    Check out www.stumbleupon.com.  This website asks you to list what you like and dislike to help find interesting websites for you.  It can become addictive because you can find truly amazing information about the things and activities you love.

If you liked this article, tell all your friends about it. They’ll thank you for it. If you have a blog or website, you can link to it or even post it to your own site (don’t forget to mention our Pressure Mattress website as the original source).

If you’re caring for someone who is bedridden or prone to pressure sores – or even if it is you who is susceptible to these distressing wounds – it’s essential to know how to look after them if they develop. Thorough and informed care of pressure sores will help them heal faster, prevent complications caused by infection and keep them from causing you further discomfort.

Follow these essential tips for caring for a pressure sore:

1. Cleaning

- Ask your health care professional for their advice before attempting to clean a pressure sore. Use the right methods, equipment and cleaning solutions according to their recommendations.
- Clean the sore each time you change the dressing.
- Be careful not to apply too much pressure to the sore when cleaning so that you damage healing tissues. On the same note, apply sufficient force so that the wound is properly cleaned.
- Do not use antiseptics such as hydrogen peroxide or iodine. These can damage sensitive tissue.
- In general, Stage 1 sores can be washed and kept clean with mild soap and water. Be careful not to use a soap that has any ingredients which could be irritating to the skin or wound. Saline solutions are used to treat Stage 3 sores – the saltwater helps to remove extra fluid and loose material.

2. Removing dead tissue and debris

- This is often a painful procedure so consider giving the patient a painkiller 30 to 60 minutes before you begin.
- Consult your health care professional before attempting to remove any dead tissue or debris yourself. At times, they may recommend the removal procedure is carried out by a medical professional.
- Rinsing the sore before each dressing change will help prevent a build up of debris.
- Ask your health care professional about which removal method is best for the type of sore being treated. The most common ones are  (i) wet-to-dry dressings which are applied when moist but dries to pull off dead tissue and debris once removed, (ii) enzyme medications which dissolve dead tissue, (iii) special dressings which encourage the body’s natural enzymes to dissolve dead tissue over a number of days.

3. Dressing the sore

- Sores should be kept covered with a bandage or dressing. These should be changed regularly.
- Always seek your health care provider’s advice and recommendations about which dressings to use. Allow them to watch you dress a sore so you know you are using the right methods.
- If using gauze dressings, keep the gauze moist and change at least once a day. Dried our gauze can pull away skin tissue.
- Wash your hands thoroughly before and after each dressing change. Use disposable gloves if needed.
- Use each dressing only once. Once finished with, a small plastic bag like a sandwich bag can be used to lift the dressing off the sore and to then discard and throw away the dressing.
- Check the dressing will stay in place when the pressure sore patient moves or changes position.
- Choose the right type of dressing or bandage for the sore. These include moist gauzes, film (see-through dressings) and hydrocolloid dressings which mold to the sore and promote healing and skin growth.
- Store and care for the dressings so they are kept clean. Discard dressings if any become wet or dirty. Only remove dressings from their box when they are needed for use.

For best prevention of bedsores, change the position of your patient every two hours and invest in a mattress overlay which will prevent bedsores from developing.

If you liked this article, tell all your friends about it. They’ll thank you for it. If you have a blog or website, you can link to it or even post it to your own site (don’t forget to mention our Pressure Mattress website as the original source).

Oftentimes, a care-giver to the ill, bedridden or elderly may find their role both physically and emotionally overwhelming. While taking care of the many needs of their patient, they forget to cater to their own needs. Sadly, this can lead to the care-giver becoming exhausted, depressed, neglecting their health, feeling unable to cope and becoming ill themselves. If you’re a care-giver, take note of these 9 essential tips to beating care-giver’s stress.

1.Never forget your own health
Just as your patient needs to have their mind, body and spirit nurtured – so do you. Make it a priority to eat well, exercise and get eight hours of sleep. Being a run-down care-giver will not be beneficial to yourself or your patient.

2.Give yourself respite time
Make use of respite services in your community or enlist a friend or relative to give you regular breaks from your care-giving which can sometimes be an around-the-clock role. Use your breaks to do things you enjoy like spending time with your family, relaxing or enjoying a night out with friends.

3.Seek support from other care-givers
Find other care-givers like yourself. You can do this through support groups or through online resources. Speaking to other care-givers who understand your experiences can be valuable and it might also give you a chance to pick up tips or useful advice.

4.Learn good ways to cope with stress
Learn meditation or deep breathing exercises, start an exercise routine or learn how to think positively and banish negative thoughts. These simple methods could make a big difference in how you feel each day.

5.Recognize your successes
Don’t forget to acknowledge your successes each day – e.g., making your patient smile or receiving their thanks for something you do. However small the successes, know the value of your role as a care-giver and the difference you are making. Accept the things you cannot change.

6.Get informed
It may seem like a chore, but finding out as much as you can about your patient’s condition or illness could actually lighten your load and help you feel more in control when caring for them. Speak to their health adviser and care team and use books or online resources to gain information and advice that will help you with your care-giving.

7.Eliminate negative habits
When a person feels stressed, it’s easy to engage in negative habits such as over-eating, drinking alcohol, withdrawing from people or neglecting your diet. If you know you are prone to any of these or other negative habits, make a determined effort not to engage in them – remember they will only make you feel worse.

8.Get things off your chest
Try not to bottle up your emotions related to your care-giving. Speak to someone you can trust about how you are feeling. Acknowledging feelings of frustration, sadness, anger, resentment, etc, will be the first step towards dealing with them. Seek professional help if your stress becomes too overwhelming.

9.Look for opportunities to lighten your load
Accept help when offered to you and make use of community resources created to help care-givers. Also, invest in practical aids that can make your care-giving role easier, as well as making your patient feel more comfortable. These include grooming, hygiene and bathing aids and products such as a low air loss mattress which prevents distressing bedsores for the bedridden.

If you liked this article, tell all your friends about it. They’ll thank you for it. If you have a blog or website, you can link to it or even post it to your own site (don’t forget to mention our Pressure Mattress website as the original source).

When taking care of a bedridden loved-one, it’s sometimes hard to imagine how they are feeling because of their confinement, illness and disabilities. As a care-giver, you’ll want to do the best job possible to cater to their physical and emotional wellbeing. But at times you may find there is so much to think about, it’s easy to neglect some of their most basic needs. If you become a care-giver to a bedridden loved-one, here are 6 essential areas it’s important to focus on:

1.Physical care
Consult a healthcare provider to learn about the best possible practical care you can provide to the bedridden. One vital task will be to encourage your loved-one to move their limbs to prevent frozen joints, immobility and blood clots, and to stimulate healthy nerve responses. You might need to move your loved-one’s limbs for them if they are unable to do so on their own. Also, change their position every two hours to prevent bedsores caused by continuous pressure on the skin.

2.Nutrition
Good nutrition is important for the bedridden. This encompasses a well-balanced diet that promotes their well-being. Ensure they have enough fiber so that unnecessary discomforts such as constipation do not occur. A good amount of fruit and vegetables are essential, too, so that your loved-one receives good nutrients to support their health and healing. Give them small, frequent meals – rather than single large ones – and make sure the patient is properly positioned when eating to avoid choking.

3.Hygiene
Prevent unnecessary infections developing through good hygiene care. Brush your loved-one’s teeth and floss their gums, wash their body daily and try to give them baths at least every other day, change incontinence garments frequently if they are being used, keep nails short and try to prevent sweat from building up in areas that are prone.

4.Specific medical problems
Have frequent consultations with a healthcare professional and become well-informed about your loved-one’s specific medical problems. Look for any changes related to their condition. Be organized and make sure you give your loved-one their medications at the right time. You might even choose to join a support group related to their illness to help you access information and support related to your care-giving.

5.Psychological support and understanding
Your loved-one will need you to be understanding about their psychological state too. They may become depressed because of their condition or feel frustrated and hopeless. Try and cater to your loved-ones emotional needs. For example, if you know having flowers in the room or playing music may lift their mood, make the effort to please them with these things. Allow your loved-one to express their wishes about your care-giving so they feel they have some control over their situation. Offer yourself as someone to talk to and reassure them with your love and compassion.

6.The right equipment aids
Invest in good products to keep your loved-one feeling as comfortable as possible and make their day easier, e.g., hygiene, dressing and bath aids. Since they will be in bed most of the time, it’s important that they have a bed and pillows that are supportive. Also, consider a pressure mattress to help prevent distressing bedsores.

If you liked this article, tell all your friends about it. They’ll thank you for it. If you have a blog or website, you can link to it or even post it to your own site (don’t forget to mention our Pressure Mattress website as the original source).

Being a care-giver to a loved-one can be a challenging and difficult task if you’re unprepared for the physical and emotional demands it can make on you. On the other hand, it can also be a very rewarding role – especially if you have some good guidelines to help you be the best care-giver you can be. Here are 6 essential rules that will help you on your way:

1.Take pride in your role
Before you become a care-giver, define the reasons you have chosen to become one, e.g., you might feel you’re able to offer your loved-one better care than they might receive from an institution or you may believe you can help your loved-one’s healing process. Whatever the reasons, recognize how important a nurturing, understanding and loving care-giver is to a patient. Know the value of your role and don’t lose sight of the reasons why you became a care-giver – this will help you receive more satisfaction from what you do.

2.Don’t help too much
Sometimes, it’s unhealthy to do too much for your loved-one. Most patients would rather be in a position where they can help themselves. Establish which tasks your loved-one might be happier doing on their own, e.g., brushing their hair or choosing what to wear. Allow them to have a say in how they are cared for, too – ask their opinion and allow them to be part of your decision-making process. Respect your loved-one’s dignity and treat them how you might want to be treated if the roles were reversed.

3.Resources
Make the most of resources in your community which may help you have a much-needed break at times, but could also make your job much easier. These resources could include respite care, hospice programs, adult day-centers and nurse assistants. You can also make use of support groups for care-givers to ensure you have good emotional support yourself. These can be found online or locally.

4.Care for yourself
The best care-giver is one who is healthy, happy and physically able to provide the care needed. It’s easy for care-givers to neglect their own needs and become depressed, run-down and ill themselves. Make time for yourself – for the things you enjoy  – like spending time with friends or going to a movie. Also, never neglect your own health – having regular and balanced meals and exercising regularly will help you stay in good physical condition and help you beat stress, too.

5.Learn as much as you can
Take the time to talk to your loved-one’s health care adviser about their condition or illness. Ask them questions if there is anything you are unsure about or don’t understand. Also, use the library or online resources to research and understand more. This will help you anticipate your loved-one’s medical needs and the best ways to encourage healing or provide comfort.

6.Enlist as much practical support as you can get
If a family member or friend asks if they can lend you a hand, don’t be afraid to say yes. Care-giving is a demanding role and it’s good to accept all the help you can get. Also, find out about practical aids that can make your daily tasks easier and support the comfort of your loved-one. These include toileting, bathing and dressing aids and also products such as an alternating pressure mattress that prevents bedsores for the bedridden.

If you liked this article, tell all your friends about it. They’ll thank you for it. If you have a blog or website, you can link to it or even post it to your own site (don’t forget to mention our Pressure Mattress website as the original source).

Following is the staging system that is most widely used to differentiate the condition of pressure sores.  It is consistent with the National Pressure Ulcer Advisory Panel and with the International Association for Enterostomal Therapy; thus, we highly recommend it to evaluate a bedridden patient’s condition in regards to developed pressure sores:

Stage I
Nonblanchable erythema of intact skin; the heralding lesion of skin ulceration.

Note: Reactive hyperemia can normally be expected to be present for one half to three fourths as long as the pressure occluded blood flow to the area (Lewis and Grant, 1925).  This should not be confused with a Stage I pressure ulcer.

Stage II
Partial thickness skin loss involving epidermis and/or dermis.  The sore is superficial and presents clinically as an abrasion, blister, or shallow crater.

Stage III
Full thickness skin loss involving damage or necrosis of subcutaneous tissue that may extend down to, but not through, underlying fascia.  The sore presents clinically as a deep crater with or without undermining of adjacent tissue.

Stage IV
Full thickness skin loss with extensive destruction, tissue necrosis or damage to muscle, bone, or supporting structures (for example, tendon or joint capsule).

Note: Undermining and sinus tracts may also be associated with Stage IV pressure ulcers.

It is crucial to know at what stage the bedsores are to be able to assess the patient’s condition, dangers he or she may face, and the best treatment for his or her specific case.

In most cases, life-threatening bedsores, the ones at Stages III and IV, can be prevented and stopped at the first two Stages with prompt and rigorous treatment and with the constant use of devices like the low air loss mattress. Nevertheless, there are two limitations within this staging system:

One, it may be difficult to identify Stage I pressure sores in patients with dark pigmentation skin.

Two, When there is an eschar (a layer of dead, burned tissue), it is not possible to identify the severe staging of the sore until the eschar peels away or the damaged tissue has been surgically removed.

If you liked this article, tell all your friends about it. They’ll thank you for it. If you have a blog or website, you can link to it or even post it to your own site (don’t forget to mention our Pressure Mattress website as the original source).

There are several factors that have been acknowledged as things that put a person more at risk of developing pressure sores.

As soon as a person is spotted as a high-risk individual, certain measures have to be taken to reduce or eliminate the risk of him or her developing bedsores.

It is imperative that the care provider, whether it is a nurse or a family member, is knowledgeable about these risk factors in order to be able to prevent the unnecessary and painful development of pressure sores.

The risk factors will vary according to the patient’s specific circumstances; nevertheless, this is a list of the 5 most common risk factors:

1.Being confined to a bed, chair, or wheelchair
Individuals who are confined to a bed, a chair, or a wheelchair, and who are not able to move by themselves, are at high risk of developing pressure sores extremely fast; in as little as a couple of hours, if the pressure is not relieved regularly.

2.Being unable to change positions without assistance
Persons who are in a coma, who are paralyzed, and who are recovering from a hip fracture or other injury that limits mobility, are extremely prone to bed sores.

These patients must be moved consistently at regular intervals, and this is very difficult on caregivers, reason why it is imperative to get a pressure mattress to help both the patient and the caretaker.

3.Losing bowel or bladder control
People who have to remain in bed for long periods of time or permanently and lose the capacity to control their bladder or bowels are in danger of getting bedsores because the continuous moisture on the skin due to urine, stool, or perspiration can irritate and weaken it.

4.Eating bad, having an imbalanced diet and/or dehydration
Pressure sores develop more easily when the body and skin of people who have lost most of their mobility are not adequately nurtured.

5.Losing mental awareness
A person who is losing mental awareness may not have enough sensory perception or capacity to take action to prevent the development of pressure sores.

If you liked this article, tell all your friends about it. They’ll thank you for it. If you have a blog or website, you can link to it or even post it to your own site (don’t forget to mention our Pressure Mattress website as the original source).

The majority of pressure sores can be prevented, and the ones that do develop, do not need to get serious or even life threatening.

The caregiver has to consider the patient’s special circumstances when creating a care plan to make sure the person does not develop pressure sores that were preventable in the first place.

Here we give you a list of the 10 precautions that care providers should, but commonly neglect to oversee to avoid pressure sores:

1.They should make an initial proper, thorough, and methodical assessment of the patient’s risk of developing pressure sores.

2.They must conduct accurate periodical assessments to measure the patient’s risk.

3.They have to bathe the patient well and thoroughly.

4.They should assess and treat the patient’s incontinence condition to make sure that excess moisture on the skin does not cause pressure sores.

5.They have to maintain the patient well hydrated and eating enough and right.

6.They must reposition and move the patient at regular intervals to make sure the pressure is relieved properly.

7.They have to use proper support and moving devices such as a low air loss mattress, to relieve pressure from critical areas.

8.They should take into account postural alignment, weight distribution, balance, stability, and pressure relief when helping the person sit on a chair or wheelchair.

9.They have to use the right lifting devices and techniques to make sure that shear and friction do not cause pressure sores.

10.They must get educated on the best ways to prevent bedsores and find documentation that supports those measures.

In essence, every patient is different, and each one will present different conditions or combination of conditions that should guide the creation of the best care plan for him or her.  The caregiver should be able to see this uniqueness in order to prevent the patient’s condition from getting worse out of neglect.

If you liked this article, tell all your friends about it. They’ll thank you for it. If you have a blog or website, you can link to it or even post it to your own site (don’t forget to mention our Pressure Mattress website as the original source).

On the past several years there have been numerous concerns over shortages of staff and lack of beds in hospitals nationwide.  As an alternative and an answer to the problem, many states, and in fact countries, have developed what is often referred to as “hospital at home” services that provide the same care to patients in a home environment instead of a hospital setting. With the availability of hospital equipment such as hospital beds, a pressure mattress overlay, and the ease of finding qualified at home professional practitioners it has become fairly easy to create a caring and medically sound environment for patients outside of the hospital. In order to determine the quality and validity of such services, studies have been initiated by several organizations to evaluate overall patient health, patient satisfaction and cost savings.  Here are some of the results that were recorded.

Patients who were recovering from stroke did better in a hospital environment than an at home setting, for the first three months.  The study showed a significant reduction in mortality rates, however, after six months for those patients provided with hospital at home care.

Overall, patients who were provided with a hospital at home setting for a variety of conditions were far more satisfied than those who remained in hospital.  Studies were all in agreement that most people prefer to be cared for outside of a hospital and are more comfortable and satisfied in a home style environment.

Other trials noted that fewer patients in a home care setting developed other complications such as bowel or urinary complications.

For patients who were suffering with dementia, those who were receiving hospital at home care were less likely to be prescribed antipsychotic drugs.

For patients suffering from cellulite, there appeared to be no differences between the hospitalized patients and those receiving hospital at home care.

Patients who were being treated for COPD in a hospital at home care were prescribed antibiotics more often than those who were being treated in hospital.

The studies showed no significant differences among patients in or out of hospital when looking at their ability to perform day to day functions or in their cognitive abilities.

From an economic viewpoint, most hospital at home care programs were less expensive than hospital care.

It should be understood that, even with such studies, one should not preclude that hospital care is not as beneficial as home care in every situation, as hospital admittance is often necessary for the overall health of the patient.  But where there is the possibility of a patient receiving adequate care in a home style setting, it can be more comfortable, satisfying, and cost effective.

It is also worth mentioning that the quality of services and personnel that provide the hospital at home care should be carefully selected and closely monitored, and that a primary care physician be in constant contact with patients and caregivers.  It is not enough to merely assume that a patient is always better cared for at home or in a home style environment, than in a hospital.

If you liked this article, tell all your friends about it. They’ll thank you for it. If you have a blog or website, you can link to it or even post it to your own site (don’t forget to mention our Pressure Mattress website as the original source).