How Can Caregivers Look After Bedridden Elders

My friend told me that her father was confined to bed due to paralysis; she had engaged a caregiver to look after him. This made me remember the various tips of dealing with elders who are bedridden due to serious heart or lung condition, paralysis or a major fracture.

Some of the tips for caregivers of bedridden elders:

1) Try to understand what the elder is going through. Then draw up a daily schedule of what is to be done.  When a schedule is set for everything including reading, watching TV programs and bathing the elder will sense a purpose in life. Also the caregiver should involve himself/herself emotionally as emotional dependence is as important as physical dependence.

2) The caregiver of an elder who is bedridden should make sure to avoid bedsores by moving him/her gently. Known as decubitus ulcer, bedsores occurs where the skin is broken or over a bony area mostly in pressure areas like the back, buttocks and elbows. It is best to ensure that the skin is dry by using talcum powder or moisturizer after bathing or sponging.  He should ensure that he seeks medical attention at the first sign of ulcer and does not rub the spot as it could worsen the condition.  

3) Ensure that you change the sheets and pillow covers often as the elder spends most of his/her time in bed and it gets dirty due to food particles, hair and skin flakes. Also from the point of view of cleanliness ensure that the mattress and blanket are dusted and aired periodically.

4) It is also essential that the caregiver of a bedridden elder makes sure to put the person in a room that has natural light and is well ventilated. It is also essential that the bed is not kept near the window to avoid chills at night. Also ensure that the room has a big attached bathroom that should accommodate a bedpan and stool for bathing.

5) The caregiver of an elder should ensure that good hygiene is maintained; the bedridden elder should brush his/her teeth twice a day. Also a full bath should be given on every other day, with sponge baths on other days. Shampoo the hair twice a week and ensure the anus and genitals are wiped clean after every use. 

6) Thought should be given to the bedridden elder’s diet; it is best to avoid spicy and fatty foods and to give small amounts of food at frequent intervals as the elder will have a poor appetite due to inactivity.  You could ask the doctor to prescribe a protein supplement or health drink to gain additional vitamins and calories.

7) In case the bedridden elder is to be fed by tube or has a urinary catheter, the help of a trained nurse may be needed to deflate a urinary catheter before taking it out and put in a new one. Also know from the doctor about the daily care of the tube and urinary catheter.

8) Grooming must play a part in the elder’s daily schedule; nails and hair must be trimmed regularly. Male elders should be shaved on the face every alternate day, while women patients should be allowed to wax or shave their arms and legs to look presentable. This will help keep their morale high and encourage them to get better soon; a positive attitude pays.

9) Lastly some bedridden elders need exercise to regain the use of muscles; a physiotherapist can play a positive role in explaining the exercises to the caregiver that can be replicated.  

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