5 Caring Tips That Show Your Bedridden Loved One How Much You Care

Thursday, July 28th, 2011 | Author: admin

It is very difficult to watch your parents, grandparents, or any other loved one end up bedridden due to an illness or old age.

When that happens, the important thing you have to understand is that there are lots of ways in which you can help make their lives easier and show them how much you care.

It is fundamental that they don’t think they are a burden, and that they feel loved, understood, and capable of having a good quality of life even if they have to remain in bed permanently.

To help you do this, here we give you 5 in-home care tips that will show your loved one how much you care:

1. Comfort

Comfort is crucial for bedridden people. There is nothing worse than to feel uncomfortable, aching, and unable to rest when you are not able to move by yourself, so make sure your loved one always has the right support for his/her back and joints.

2. Cleanliness

No person can feel well if he/she is not clean, and this gets even worse if they are bedridden.

It is vital to bathe and groom your loved one every day, just as they would do if they could move. Something this simple does wonders for the person’s self-esteem.

Equally, you should change the bedding daily and make sure the room is clean. A nice, clean room with good ventilation, temperature, and illumination is crucial for a bedridden person’s wellbeing. Remember that this is their world now.

3. Records

It is very important that you keep clear and thorough records of the person’s appetite, bowel movements, body temperature, pulse, and breathing, to have them ready in case the doctor needs this information promptly.

4. Skin care

When bedridden, a person is prone to getting bedsores and skin ulcers on the areas that are under constant pressure. It starts with the skin becoming tender and painful, ‘till finally the infected sores burst.

The way to avoid bedsores is to always maintain the skin dry and very clean, to smooth out the bed sheets constantly, and to change the person’s position at least every two hours.

Yes… this can be a daunting task, but don’t despair… there is help. Make sure you get a pressure mattress, which has a mechanism that moves the person from one side to the other at regular intervals, ensuring the skin is well protected from excess pressure.

5. Blood circulation

The inactivity a bedridden person suffers makes him/her vulnerable to blood clotting. This happens when blood merges in the veins forming blood clots that can travel along the bloodstream to important organs. It can cause strokes and even death.

Make sure your loved one is massaged and moved regularly to stimulate blood circulation in the body and that he/she takes proper medication that can help with this condition if necessary.