Facilities You Need When Caring for a Bedridden Patient

“Aging in place” is becoming a popular alternative to elderly people having to relocate to a nursing home, especially if they are confined to their beds. Carers and family can help the patient manage their needs in their own setting, where they are familiar with their surroundings and comfortable in their home environments.

Being bedridden is hard enough without having to spend all that time in a hospital. Having an opportunity to heal at home, in contrast, is much more comfortable and pleasant for most bedridden patients.

Bed-bound or bedridden patients require certain medical supplies for maximum comfort, cleanliness, and dignity. If you are a primary carer for a bedridden patient, be braced for a long haul as the care and attention you are going to give will be long and tedious.

The primary carer must be healthy and fit and must have passion to take care a bedridden relative who may need care around the clock. They will need assistance with everyday activities.

At this point, you are only as happy, contented, and comfortable to the extent they are. The patient will be difficult, might have attitude and can get the carer frustrated and so you may feel they do not understand all what you do for them.

Don’t worry as this is so very normal and you are not alone under the circumstances. It does get better. Before caring for the bedridden patient, you need to get prepared with the facilities that is needed for the patient for comfort and safety.

So how do we take care of your loved one and what measures are there to make it easier for both the patient and the carer. Here are some pointers.

Ensure the Room of the Patient is Conducive

The environment we are in has a lot to do with how we feel. Take some time to ensure.

• The room of your loved one has good lighting
• The path to the bathroom clean (with no clutter)
• The things they consistently use, such as book, diary, phone, and alarm are within reach
• You air the room for fresh air to circulate
• Their room is free from noise, especially when they are resting for quality sleep

Get an Adjustable Bed

An adjustable bed is extremely beneficial for people who struggle with mobility, especially for bedridden patients who suffer from pain, are recovering from an injury or operation, or have a chronic health condition. Here are some of the benefits associated with an adjustable bed.

The patient can enjoy zero gravity position as the weight is perfectly distributed, the spine is in a neutral position, and there is no pressure on the joints and muscles. The zero-gravity position can help with snoring, insomnia, sleep apnoea, digestion, heartburn, acid reflux, sore muscles, restless legs, sciatica, and hip, knee, ankle, neck, and back pain.

What’s more it’s easier to get in and out of an adjustable bed to enhance independence, allowing people to remain in their own homes and enjoy a quality of life in comfortable surroundings. The comfort at the touch of the button is another great benefit.

Arrange for an Air Mattress to prevent Bedsores

For most of us, our bed is a place of rest and reprieve at the end of each day. It’s the spot where we can let go of the stress of our to-do list or the big project that’s due next week and drift off into a sweet (or at least restful) slumber.

If you sit or sleep in one position, you stand the risk of getting bed or pressure sores. We must make sure the patient is positioned differently every few hours. In the worst-case scenario, these sores can become infected and result in complications and a shortened life.

If a patient suffers from bed sores, a low air loss mattress can provide an essential form of treatment proven to keep patients at home in their beds and away from the hospital.

How do air mattresses help, they help avoid skin breakdown by promoting blood flow and stimulating circulation in the body?

Air mattresses alternate the body's positioning regularly so that the pressure doesn't build up too much on parts of the body that are prone to pressure sores such as the buttocks, elbows, back, and hips.

Where necessary a Bed Rail can help

A bed rail can be easily installed on either side of the bed and provides the user with additional security when getting in or out of bed. The height can be adjusted, and this can support up to 300 pounds only if the patient is not entirely bedridden. If there is partial mobility this bed rail would be helpful especially for the carer.