It is not easy to see a loved one end up in bed permanently due to an illness or old age; however, it happens a lot, and many people have suddenly found themselves in the position of caregiver without having any training or idea of what this new role will demand from them.

Most definitely, in-home care is the best kind of care a bedridden person can have if it is undertaken with love and commitment. This doesn’t mean, of course, that it is an easy alternative.

Bedridden patients who are cared for at home have many needs and require constant attention, which together with the normal activities around a house and of its members, can sometimes get beyond overwhelming.

Here we give you 17 tips to help you balance your life if you have assumed the role of caregiver to a loved one:

1. Always make medical and personal decisions founded on a solid base of integrity so that you are not troubled by second guessing later.

2. Be real about what’s happening today. Don’t imagine things are worse, and enjoy the good parts. Do not let images of what could happen control your life.

3. Be honest with family and friends. Talk regularly and be direct about what’s happening.

4. Expect and be ready for difficult talks. Family and friends will digest the news of an illness at different times; so, at first some may not understand the tension you are going through.

You have to explain the illness, treatment, side effects, etc. to them thoroughly, and maybe even meet with the doctor so that he can address questions in an accurate way.

5. Learn the medical language. This will help your work as a caregiver. Search the web for trusted websites where you can find accurate information, but always confirm it with the doctor to avoid worrying needlessly.

6. Get every item that can help you ease the work. Bedridden patients who can’t move by themselves must be moved at least every two hours to avoid bedsores, and this is an exhausting task.

Get a low air loss mattress, which will turn the patient automatically at established hours and will allow you to rest at night and do other things during the day. Equally, get a bath kit, which is especially designed to simplify bathing a bedridden patient. There are many other in-home care items that will make yours and your loved one’s life easier and happier.

7. Learn to listen and be compassionate, because your loved one’s mood may change abruptly due to their condition, and you have to understand this is only temporary and you shouldn’t take it personally.

8. Control what you can. Get help with household chores, with yard work, cook meals in advance, organize your bills and paperwork so that you know what you are spending, and plan your work.

9. Stop trying to control what you have no control over. You can’t change the reality of your loved one’s illness, but you can trust there is a reason for everything… even for this.

10. Rest. Find a comfortable spot at home where you can relax on a comfy chair surrounded by a nice and clean environment.

11. Cook comfort food with love. It will soothe everyone’s soul, will provide nutrition for healing, and will put a smile on your loved one’s face.

12. Enjoy life. Find new interests that you can enjoy with your loved one at home: play games, watch movies, listen to music, paint, and simply enjoy simple pleasures.

13. Write a journal. This gives you a private space to let it all out.

14. Envision the future. Even in the face of illness, we can grow, so don’t stop making plans.

15. Give to others. Give as much as you will receive during these difficult times: a comforting word, a prayer, or a distracting conversation, can make a person’s day when they are feeling low. Giving will make you feel spiritually and emotionally full.

16. Take care of yourself. Eat well, exercise, rest, and learn to say no. Go out from time to time to get energized.

17. Do not expect to be perfect. Caregivers have their low moments, and this is more than understandable. Do the best you can and let go of the rest.

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).

Being bedridden can get really boring, and if the condition is semi-permanent or for the rest of someone’s life, that person will experience serious lows in his or her mood while learning to live in this new state, where normal life interferes, where a low air loss mattress becomes their best friend, and where contact with people diminishes considerably.

In this sense, the best gift you can give someone you love, who happens to be bedridden, is your time and regular presence in his or her life.  When someone can’t move from a bed, the way to connect with the world and to avoid monotony is through the company of others; thus, schedule a weekly chess game, an hour to read, or just drop by with some magazines.

If you want to give your loved one a material gift, first answer these questions:

-What’s his or her health condition?  Some foods or gifts like massages could be harmful.
-How much can he or she move?  Do not give a journal to someone who can’t move his or her arms.
-What does he or she have access to?  Bring DVDs or games only if they have a way to use them.
-What does he or she like?
-What does he or she already have?

It is best if you ask your loved one if he or she would like the gift you are thinking of because when one has to spend every single hour of every single day in the same room, an unwanted or old gift may become a burden.

After answering the questions above, it will be easier to find a great gift for your loved one.  Here we give you some suggestions:

-Crafts and activities
Give him or her a book of origami, a book of puzzles, or logic and riddle books.

If your loved one likes to write, get him or her some stationery or a journal, and if they are unable to write, offer to write letters and emails for them.

Help him or her start a long distance education course.

-Electronics
Gift your loved one with access to a new world by giving him or her a laptop with Internet connection, a TV, a DVD player, or game console.  All these are great entertainment when you have to remain in bed permanently.

-Food
As long as the doctor allows it, food is always a great gift.  Bring him or her their favorite treat or food every once in a while.

-Entertainment
Books and DVDs are a must.  Offer to get your loved one any book they want to read, and even offer to read it to them, and schedule time to watch movies or TV series with them.  It gets much better when there’s the chance to socialize while reading or watching TV.

-Comfort
Details like a satin pillow, cotton nightgowns, or warm socks are very valuable and seldom considered.  A good massage is a gift that will be happily welcomed too.

The truly important thing about a gift for a bedridden person is the meaning behind it.  It is the knowledge that you haven’t forgotten the person, and that you still want to be a part of his or her life.

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).

Pavanmukta Asana, or the Wind Releasing Posture, is a yoga posture that is perfect for bedridden patients, whether they can do it by themselves or with the help of their caregiver.

The Posture

This posture is easy to perform, and people of every age can practice it.

While lying on the back on a firm surface, ask the bedridden patient to keep the palms down and close to the body.  Bring the heels and toes together and keep them loose.  The whole body must be straight and the patient must look up to the ceiling and breathe normally.

-Lift one knee up towards the patient’s chest.

-Pull the knee towards the chest and stomach without pulling the ankle.

-In that posture, ask the patient to relax all the muscles and continue to breathe normally.  Maintain the posture for 6 to 8 seconds.

-Release by returning the leg back to its original position.

-Repeat with the other leg, pressing against the chest and stomach.

The Benefits

The foot and calf asanas activate the inert lymph and venous blood.  These alleviate tiredness and cramps, as well as prevent venous thrombosis, especially in bedridden or post-operative patients.

This posture, specifically, activates the pancreas and other organs within the abdomen, and alleviates wind trouble and acidity.  It also loosens the hip joints and stimulates the abdominal muscle and intestines, eliminating constipation and correcting any stomach breakdown.

Pavanmukta Asana is a posture that complements the effects of a low air loss mattress in permanently bedridden patients.  Its objective is also to activate important parts and organs in the body, which are compromised due to the regular lack of movement.

Pregnant women should not practice this posture, and people who have had belly surgery, or suffer from hernia and piles, should talk to a yoga expert before performing it.

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 http://www.volkner.com as the original source).

Anyone who is bedridden and suffers from Alzheimer’s has 10 vital needs that must be met by his or her caregiver to ensure they remain as healthy as possible:

1.Prevention of skin decay and pressure sores
Bedridden patients must be re-positioned regularly to prevent bedsores from forming.

It is easier to prevent pressure sores than to heal them, thus get the help of an alternating pressure mattress to move the patient regularly, or move him or her yourself at least every two hours, from left to right, to release the pressure in certain body areas.  If you are moving the patient, use pillows to support the position.

A balanced diet and the ingestion of lots of liquid will help keep the bedridden Alzheimer’s patient’s skin healthy.

2.Getting out of bed for some hours every day
Every bedridden patient should leave the bed for a few hours every day.  Now, there is equipment available to help any caregiver get the most severely disabled person into a chair.

Sitting for a while helps relieve pressure spots, especially on the back, shoulder blades, back of the head, and hips.

3.Learning to do passive movements
This is necessary to prevent joints from seizing, and thus, caregivers must learn how to do this.

Passive movements have to do with moving the joints without the patient exerting any effort.

4.Eating and drinking well
It is normal for bedridden patients not wanting to eat or drink, because they usually have poor appetite, find it hard to swallow, are depressed, and feel sick.

A dietician may give you good advice as to how to choose the best diet for a bedridden patient, what food supplement drinks are good, how to liquefy foods, and what feeding aids may help you.

5.Keeping mouth, eyes, ears, and general hygiene levels high
Bedridden patients must be cleaned regularly, especially if they suffer from incontinence.

Do not forget to take care of the mouth and teeth.

Let the patient use glasses or hearing aids until these become uncomfortable or dangerous.

6.Dealing with incontinence
At some point, Alzheimers patients will suffer from urinary and/or fecal incontinence.  The caregiver must train to be able to take care of these episodes in a way that is comfortable for the patient.

There are many products today that help in these situations.

7.Lowering the risk of injury
If the patient tends to fall, put his or her mattress and springs on the floor.

Make sure you use the right support and bed cot sides.  Avoid using restraint unless it is an emergency.

8.    Massaging and touching
Massages soothe and relieve pain.  The caregiver must massage the patient’s arms, hands, and legs with oil or moisturizer.  This will improve the skin’s condition, and will prevent dryness and irritation.

Touching the patient with care is very important to reassure the person that someone cares for him or her.  Comb or stroke their hair with love, and hold their hand while talking to them.

9.Focusing on what they enjoy
A bedridden patient must have regular activities.  Talk to them, show them pictures, play music, or read to them.

Try to maintain the activities you know they loved.

Try to take them outdoors to breathe fresh air and feel the sun on their skin.

10.Giving them a view
Locate their bed near a window with a nice view, but make sure the sun and heat do not hit them directly during the day.

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 http://www.volkner.com as the original source).

Giving a bath to a person who is bedridden is an activity that has to be learned properly in order to ensure the comfort and safety of the patient.

There are easy techniques we can learn to care for our bedridden loved ones in an effective and loving way. The last thing we want is to cause them harm, thus, we must be very careful when moving them while giving them a bed bath, and we have understand that we will be bathing the person by body parts, not the whole body at once.

Here’s what you should do to bathe a bedridden person so that he or she feels truly clean:

1.Always keep the person’s bottom very clean, so that when bathing time comes, this body part is easier to take care of.  Every time there is an incontinence incident, and after every bowel movement, wash the area thoroughly.

2.Get a small bathtub and fill it with warm water.  You will need five washcloths and five small towels to clean the whole body, because these will be changed frequently to keep the water clean.  You want the dirt to stay on the cloths, not the water.  You can put a small amount of liquid soap into the water, but just a couple of drops so that it doesn’t feel soapy.

3.Adjust the room temperature and get rid of drafts so that the person is not cold.  When the water gets cold, change it to ensure it always remains at a nice warm temperature.

4.Ensure there will be complete privacy while you are bathing your loved one, do not take any phone calls during the process, and focus on the person.

5.Expose body parts as you will be washing them, keep the rest covered to avoid chills.

6.Be cheerful as you bathe the person, talk to them, put some music on if they like it, and treat him or her as you would like to be treated.

7.To begin the bath, put the person on his or her back and expose the upper part of the body.  Wet the washcloth with warm water and rub it on the patient’s face and neck, then, dip a towel into the water, squeeze the excess of liquid, and rub to rinse these body parts.  Get another towel and dry them thoroughly.  Discard the washcloth and rinsing towel; you can use the drying towel again.

8.Repeat the procedure above to wash the arms, hands, and chest, and when you’re done, cover them with a blanket to keep the person warm.

9.Next, turn the person to one side and wash the back with circular movements, following the same routine as before.  After drying the back thoroughly, put the patient back in bed.  Right now may be a good time to change the water, since it may have gotten cold.

10.It’s time to move to the lower part of the body.  Start by washing the legs and feet in the same way you washed the arms and hands, and after drying thoroughly, cover them right away.

11.The last body part you should wash is the bottom.  Use the same procedure as for the rest of the body, and cover as soon as you’re done.

12.Put clean clothes on the person, change the bed sheets, and position the patient comfortably over a low air loss mattress to stimulate circulation in his or her body.

This bathing technique uses a very small amount of water and maximizes the caregiver’s time while making the bedridden person feel refreshed and comfortable.

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 http://www.volkner.com as the original source).

Bedridden patients can benefit greatly from a massage.  A pressure mattress is crucial, but not enough, to stimulate the tissues, muscles, and organs in the body; hence, a massage works great to improve the patient’s circulation and to invigorate the muscles to avoid their atrophy.

But, the benefits of a massage in bedridden patients go beyond the physical aspect.  This kind of therapy also makes them feel calmer and reduces stress, helping alleviate pain.

There are 3 types of massages that you can recommend to your bedridden loved one:

1.Myofascial massage
This massage involves the whole body and it is done to relieve the tension in the fascia, which is the fibrous connective tissue that ties muscles and organs together in the body.

The physiotherapist uses long and stretching movements to relax the muscles that are tense.  It is a soft massage that can help alleviate pain.

With slow, steady rubs that are directed towards the heart, blood flow through the body is increased, and in this way, additional oxygen and nutrients can flow more easily to the tissues to enhance the healing process and to relieve pain.

The movement works out the heart muscle and offers training support to the arteries.

2.Swedish massage
This type of massage is more aggressive than the myofascial and is recommended for patients who suffer from muscles spasms and acute pain.  The movements of the Swedish massage affect the muscles, joints, ligaments, and fascia.

Besides improving circulation, this massage enhances breathing capability, reduces the swelling produced by fluid retention, soothes the nerves, and improves flexibility and joint range of motion.

To enhance the healing benefits, the physiotherapist uses hot and cold applications while doing the massage.  Depending on the patient’s level of comfort, the rubs can be gentle or strong.

The ligaments are massaged along and across to stimulate the drainage of toxins and flexibility, and the strong vertical rubs imitate the effects of exercise.

The therapist uses fast vibrating movements to help clear the lungs, to control muscle and joint pain, and to generate muscle contractions.  To alleviate aching joints and to produce a feeling of wellness, the Swedish massage includes compression done with warm oil.

3.Geriatric massage
This type of massage uses many techniques and is tailored to the patient.  It treats emotional states as much as physical ones that are normal in elderly people, and is mainly used in hospitals and nursing homes to help seniors that are bedridden.

People who have to remain in bed for long periods of time need soft massage rubs with oil to help alleviate bedsores and pressure points, and it is also vital to consider arthritis, high blood pressure, brittle bones, and hardened arteries, when defining a massage routine for the elderly.

The geriatric massage may use techniques from the Swedish and myofascial types, plus others from more gentle therapies like Reiki and aromatherapy.  The physiotherapist must be specially trained to deal with the needs of bedridden seniors to ensure the patient is professionally cared for.

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 http://www.volkner.com as the original source).