No one enjoys spending a bright, beautiful summer day indoors, yet seniors and the elderly recuperating from hospital admissions, surgeries, or outpatient procedures may find themselves bedridden or confined to one room. Being bedridden can be difficult to adjust to – being confined or homebound can lead to a multitude of medical and mental illnesses. Confinement is associated with tiredness, and an array of mental and physical illnesses – which can worsen in spring and summer months. It can have a pathological effect on the overall quality of life of both the patient and the caregiver.
As a caregiver responsibilities can double when caring for a loved one who is bedridden or confined. Bedridden patients require fulltime 24/7 care and attention. Daily bathing and hygiene usually require more than one person. Preparing nutritious [prescribed] meals, changing the bed, avoiding bedsores and screening for redness, rashes and skin breaks ‘on a daily basis can become exasperating and overwhelming. Communications, declines, and emergencies challenge the patient and the caregiver.
Caring for the confined patient offers similar struggles. Rooms must be large enough for medical equipment and prescribed bedding, be well ventilated and allow space for wheelchairs or crutches, chairs and/or tables. Providing activities which stimulate and inspire include television, computers, books, and magazines. Opportunities to interact online, access to podcasts and interactive media spur psychological stimulation. Human contact beyond that of the in-home caregiver enthuses mental and emotional well-being. Patients need to experience variations in their environment: Intersperse color in bedding, curtains, décor, and clothing. Social and psychic overload can befall those who care for confined or homebound patients. Caring for the caregiver is as important as caring for the patient.
Warm summer days and extended hours of daylight are a draw to outdoor activities. Caregivers long for long walks, sandy beaches, amusement parks and outdoor cafes’ – so does the bedridden and/or confined patient. Home Helpers Home Care South Tulsa provides guidance and support to caregivers – in the home, in assisted living and long-term care facilities. Your 24/7 requirement can be reduced to three hours a day or three days a week. Your loved one will receive physical, mental, and emotional care from a trained, professional caregiver.
Understanding the challenges of the confined patient and acknowledging the challenges of their caregiver is step one in meeting the psychological, emotional, and physical of both. Long, hot summer days can seem never-ending. Let us help. Call me to learn more.