Assisting your loved one during your hospital checkups and appointments can sometimes be stressful for both you and the bedridden patient. There is a huge advantage of choosing to take care of bedridden patients at home instead. Choosing to schedule a home doctor for bedridden patients will definitely alleviate the concern for the mobility of your loved one who has undergone a medical surgery. A major illness can also cause your elderly loved one to require more time and patience needed for the situation. If you’re worried about how to handle an environment such as this, the first thing to remember is to put yourself in their shoes. It is not an easy feeling for someone who can’t walk or even do simple tasks so understanding what they are going through is a big help.

Tips to Consider for Bedridden Patients

Your loved one needs all the support and service that they can get while recovering from a treatment or surgery. However, those who are undergoing a longer period of being bedridden may suffer some emotional distress or lack of trust while in this process. It is important to also maintain their hygiene, environment, and prevent them from experiencing additional physical pain. This will help them to focus on recuperating from any loss or distract them from a challenging situation. Keeping a journal or list of things to do as well as medication time and food intake can help answer the doctor’s questions in the future. Here are some tips that you can replicate while taking care of bedridden patients at home.

Choose a Healthy Environment

A stress-free environment may help bedridden patients at home where it can soothe their emotional pain. The feeling of being in a hospital for so long might scare them so opting to choose a healthy environment is terribly important.  Empathy is definitely different from sympathy in this matter. Empathy is knowing what your responsibility is as a family member or friend in making your loved one feel better. Reassure the person that they are not alone and show your commitment to taking care of them. The amount of patience that you will be giving takes a lot of sacrifices or prioritization.

Preventing Bedsores

Bedsores happen when the epidermis has been in contact with a cloth or fabric for a long time that causes skin irritation or bumps. It can also happen when the patient hasn’t moved their body parts for quite some time. When moving your patient at home, it is best to ask permission from their doctor on doing this. Usually, before being checked out at the hospital, the doctor or nurse available should be able to instruct you with the proper steps. Make sure to check which areas cause the bedsores to prevent further injury or possible risks.

Maintain Nutrition and Diet

The proper nutrition and diet recommended for the patient should be followed exactly as instructed by the dietician. Provide a well-balanced diet and avoid the food that causes more bacteria to spread such as sugary food or carbohydrates. It is highly encouraged to keep the information on the food intake in a notebook or journal for the patient. This will be useful in knowing the activities done and measuring the next step for the medication or treatment.

Proper Hygiene and Cleanliness

Hygiene and cleanliness are one thing you shouldn’t forget while taking care of those that are bedridden. Infections usually happen when gauzes or bandages aren’t cleaned properly or even replaced at all. Change the bedsheets often and pillowcases to remove crumbs of food or other bacteria that can form in unclean surfaces. If your loved one can take a bath, allow them to hold onto you and assist with the toiletries. Taking a bath and having clean sheets will help the patient feel fresh and healthy for their continuous rejuvenation.