Show of hands: how many of your caregivers out there thought helping with the care of a loved one would be relatively simple, just a matter of coordinating a few things? And how many of you who thought that now feel overwhelmed?
Most of us start out that way, don’t we? We think it’s “just caregiving” or that it will “just take a little time,” but before long, the job is consuming so many of our waking hours that we scarcely have time for anything else, including immediate family, work, friends and all the activities that we enjoy.
Here’s a list of caregiving topics that need your careful and honest consideration. Don’t make assumptions. Find out what realistically can be expected:
1) Duration—Is taking care of grandma going to be for a few months or a few years? What is her overall health like? The overall health picture is your best guide to duration.
2) Financial cost—What is grandma’s financial status? If she’s running out of funds, who’s going to pay for her care?
3) Cost to career—If you take a year or more out of your career, will you be able to resume where you left off when you are able to return?
4) Cost to “other” family life—How do your spouse and children feel about your new duties? Are they willing to play second fiddle while you give your primary time and attention to grandma?
5) Skill set required—What will you be expected to know, and what tasks will you be expected to perform? Are you prepared and able to provide medical treatment by giving injections, changing dressings, taking blood pressure, etc.?
6) Amount of help you’ll need—Assess the amount of work to be done and then ask yourself how much of it you can do on your own, and how much you’ll need help with. Once you’ve got that figured out, ask yourself where that help is going to come from.
7) Time—How many hours, every day, will taking care of grandma require? Two hours, four hours, twenty-four hours? Look at your existing schedule and then see where and how you will fit in this new demand on your time. Be sure to program in time for self-care for yourself—at least an hour a day—along with caregiving and all your other responsibilities.
This is an intimidating list, to be sure. My purpose is not to keep you from taking the caregiving assignment, but to help you accept it with the knowledge of how you can best do it. Grandma needs care and you love her and want to provide it. That’s a great start. But be sure that you know what’s behind the door marked “caregiving” when you decide to walk through it. Where there are places on this list that you can’t provide the time/resources/knowledge needed, then devise a plan to fill in the gaps so that you can move ahead.
Blessings, Joanne
Saturday, May 26, 2012
Saturday, May 19, 2012
NUTRITION FOR HEALTHY CAREGIVING
As a caregiver, you need to look at nutrition the way an athlete does. You’re asking a lot of your body, especially in terms of the stress load you’re carrying, so you want to fuel it wisely and well. Here are some ideas:
• The US Department of Health and Human Services recommends two-and-a-half cups of fruits and vegetables per day, three ounces or more of whole grain products, and three cups of non-fat or low-fat dairy products.
• One cup of soybeans, or edamame, contains 16 grams of protein and eight grams of fiber. That’s ¼ of the daily fiber intake recommended by the American Heart Association. Virtually no fat comes with this protein and fiber.
• Omega-3 oils are beneficial for a variety of health concerns. You can get what you need if you eat three ounces of salmon twice a week.
• Ten “super vegetables” which have cancer-fighting and heart-health benefits are arugula, bok choi, broccoli, green cabbage, brussels sprouts, kale, red cabbage, Napa cabbage, cauliflower, kohlrabi, tatsoi, watercress, radishes, rutbaga, Romanesco cauliflower, and turnips.
• Research makes it clear that lowering bad cholesterol (LDL) isn’t about deleting fat from our diets, because we need it for good health. Rather it’s a matter of using unsaturated fats. So sauté in olive oil instead of butter. In general avoid saturated fats, and when you do consume fat, make it poly- and un-saturated fats.
In general, avoid caffeine, alcohol, white sugar and fried food. Go for the fresh fruits and veggies, the whole grains, lean meats, fish and poultry. And drink lots of water every day. Give your body the fuel it needs and deserves.
Blessings, Joanne
• The US Department of Health and Human Services recommends two-and-a-half cups of fruits and vegetables per day, three ounces or more of whole grain products, and three cups of non-fat or low-fat dairy products.
• One cup of soybeans, or edamame, contains 16 grams of protein and eight grams of fiber. That’s ¼ of the daily fiber intake recommended by the American Heart Association. Virtually no fat comes with this protein and fiber.
• Omega-3 oils are beneficial for a variety of health concerns. You can get what you need if you eat three ounces of salmon twice a week.
• Ten “super vegetables” which have cancer-fighting and heart-health benefits are arugula, bok choi, broccoli, green cabbage, brussels sprouts, kale, red cabbage, Napa cabbage, cauliflower, kohlrabi, tatsoi, watercress, radishes, rutbaga, Romanesco cauliflower, and turnips.
• Research makes it clear that lowering bad cholesterol (LDL) isn’t about deleting fat from our diets, because we need it for good health. Rather it’s a matter of using unsaturated fats. So sauté in olive oil instead of butter. In general avoid saturated fats, and when you do consume fat, make it poly- and un-saturated fats.
In general, avoid caffeine, alcohol, white sugar and fried food. Go for the fresh fruits and veggies, the whole grains, lean meats, fish and poultry. And drink lots of water every day. Give your body the fuel it needs and deserves.
Blessings, Joanne
Saturday, May 12, 2012
A BASKETFUL OF CAREGIVING IDEAS
I collect articles on caregiving the way some folks collect antiques or sports trading cards. Most of the time there’s sufficient “meat” in these articles that I can write a whole blog post from them. Sometimes, they are are good ideas, but too short for a full post.
What follows is a collection of those shorties—good ideas for caregivers that are too important to miss, but too short to make a whole post.
• New research reveals that there may be a link between blood sugar levels and dementia. In the face of soaring rates of Type 2 diabetes and dementing diseases of all kinds, it is becoming clear that there are good reasons to control blood sugar. Not only will it keep diabetes at bay, but it may also do the same for dementias such as Alzheimer’s disease.
• “Gentle reminders” is the way Martha Stewart Living framed the need to update personal records. Once a year we need to update insurance and other important papers. Do you know where things like your birth certificate, social security card and military discharge papers are? What about your vehicle registrations?
• Before you next annual medical exam, create a medical journal for yourself that lists your complete health history, your immunizations, your roster of physicians and your prescription medications, over-the-counter drugs and supplements. You should have one of these for your patient, but it’s more likely to be active—and therefore updated—than your own. Don’t neglect yourself—or your records—while you give care to another.
• An optimistic outlook is good for you physically as well as emotionally. People who look on the bright side and hold a strong sense of hope for the future actually do better in terms of health and longevity than their negative-thinking counterparts. That’s important while you’re caregiving. To keep on the optimistic side don’t beat yourself up about mistakes. Note them and move on. Express gratitude often. Engage in activities that give you pleasure—sing, dance, read, tell stories, visit with friends, enjoy nature.
These are short ideas but offer plenty to think about—and do—if you’re a caregiver. And you might want to share them with your loved one, too.
Blessings, Joanne
What follows is a collection of those shorties—good ideas for caregivers that are too important to miss, but too short to make a whole post.
• New research reveals that there may be a link between blood sugar levels and dementia. In the face of soaring rates of Type 2 diabetes and dementing diseases of all kinds, it is becoming clear that there are good reasons to control blood sugar. Not only will it keep diabetes at bay, but it may also do the same for dementias such as Alzheimer’s disease.
• “Gentle reminders” is the way Martha Stewart Living framed the need to update personal records. Once a year we need to update insurance and other important papers. Do you know where things like your birth certificate, social security card and military discharge papers are? What about your vehicle registrations?
• Before you next annual medical exam, create a medical journal for yourself that lists your complete health history, your immunizations, your roster of physicians and your prescription medications, over-the-counter drugs and supplements. You should have one of these for your patient, but it’s more likely to be active—and therefore updated—than your own. Don’t neglect yourself—or your records—while you give care to another.
• An optimistic outlook is good for you physically as well as emotionally. People who look on the bright side and hold a strong sense of hope for the future actually do better in terms of health and longevity than their negative-thinking counterparts. That’s important while you’re caregiving. To keep on the optimistic side don’t beat yourself up about mistakes. Note them and move on. Express gratitude often. Engage in activities that give you pleasure—sing, dance, read, tell stories, visit with friends, enjoy nature.
These are short ideas but offer plenty to think about—and do—if you’re a caregiver. And you might want to share them with your loved one, too.
Blessings, Joanne
Saturday, May 5, 2012
TOUCH MEANS SO MUCH
For people who are under-going medical treatment of any kind, touch is literally a two-edged sword.
There’s the “touch” that comes with examination and treatment, which is a lot of poking and prodding that can be very painful at times. Patients endure it in order to gain back some or all of their previous level of health.
But there’s also a more gentle form of touch that comes from loved ones and caregivers who will hold a hand during a painful procedure, give a neck massage to help relieve tension, or reach out to touch while sharing a prayer.
One provides healing in the therapeutic, physical arena. The other provides emotional and spiritual healing.
In a recent scare over a month-long series of arrhythmia episodes, I very quickly got in touch with both types. And a third one as well—the patronizing pat on the shoulder from a doctor who was supremely disinterested in my overall health. He was sure he could “cure” my arrhythmia with drugs and at our final meeting gave me the shoulder pat and said “Don’t worry. You should be fine.” That was not comforting because it was the medical equivalent of having a stranger call me “honey” or “sweetie.”
It turned out I wasn’t fine because he prescribed much too strong a dosage of the anti-arrhythmia drugs. However, I quickly found a cardiologist whose concern was clearly genuine—“How can I help you achieve your health goals?” was his opening question. When he reached out to touch, it did feel comforting. He also greatly cut the drug dosage back and I was feeling fine again, finally.
Caregivers need to be aware that their loved ones are living in a world of these two types of touch. Often we forget that the only touch our patients are experiencing is the more painful kind, or, worse still, the patronizing kind. So what can we do to help? Here are a few ideas:
• Holding someone’s hand during a physically painful medical procedure or during a diagnosis has been shown to reduce the patient’s stress. When you go to these types of appointments with your loved ones, hold their hands.
• Massages of the neck and shoulders, the hands, or the feet and lower legs can not only be comforting emotionally, but soothing physically.
• Holding your loved ones’ hands while you pray together at the start of what might be a stressful day, before the doctors comes into the examining room (or with the doctor if she or he is agreeable to it), before or after a difficult treatment, or at the end of a stressful day is always a good thing.
• Depending on your relationship with your loved one, a cuddle or embrace to soothe away stress is also a good thing.
Think of your childhood when you felt bad about a fight with a friend, a bad report card, or you fell and skinned your knees. Wasn’t your mother’s embrace an important part of making you feel better? The same applies to your loved one.
Blessings, Joanne
There’s the “touch” that comes with examination and treatment, which is a lot of poking and prodding that can be very painful at times. Patients endure it in order to gain back some or all of their previous level of health.
But there’s also a more gentle form of touch that comes from loved ones and caregivers who will hold a hand during a painful procedure, give a neck massage to help relieve tension, or reach out to touch while sharing a prayer.
One provides healing in the therapeutic, physical arena. The other provides emotional and spiritual healing.
In a recent scare over a month-long series of arrhythmia episodes, I very quickly got in touch with both types. And a third one as well—the patronizing pat on the shoulder from a doctor who was supremely disinterested in my overall health. He was sure he could “cure” my arrhythmia with drugs and at our final meeting gave me the shoulder pat and said “Don’t worry. You should be fine.” That was not comforting because it was the medical equivalent of having a stranger call me “honey” or “sweetie.”
It turned out I wasn’t fine because he prescribed much too strong a dosage of the anti-arrhythmia drugs. However, I quickly found a cardiologist whose concern was clearly genuine—“How can I help you achieve your health goals?” was his opening question. When he reached out to touch, it did feel comforting. He also greatly cut the drug dosage back and I was feeling fine again, finally.
Caregivers need to be aware that their loved ones are living in a world of these two types of touch. Often we forget that the only touch our patients are experiencing is the more painful kind, or, worse still, the patronizing kind. So what can we do to help? Here are a few ideas:
• Holding someone’s hand during a physically painful medical procedure or during a diagnosis has been shown to reduce the patient’s stress. When you go to these types of appointments with your loved ones, hold their hands.
• Massages of the neck and shoulders, the hands, or the feet and lower legs can not only be comforting emotionally, but soothing physically.
• Holding your loved ones’ hands while you pray together at the start of what might be a stressful day, before the doctors comes into the examining room (or with the doctor if she or he is agreeable to it), before or after a difficult treatment, or at the end of a stressful day is always a good thing.
• Depending on your relationship with your loved one, a cuddle or embrace to soothe away stress is also a good thing.
Think of your childhood when you felt bad about a fight with a friend, a bad report card, or you fell and skinned your knees. Wasn’t your mother’s embrace an important part of making you feel better? The same applies to your loved one.
Blessings, Joanne
Saturday, April 28, 2012
DEPRESSION CAN HIT BOTH CAREGIVER AND PATIENT
We have become a culture obsessed with feeling good all the time, regardless of the circumstances. Sometimes, watching the ads for all the anti-depression meds on TV, I think we’ve decided that feeling less than happy and peppy needs to be dealt with like a bad case of the chicken pox—take some drugs and make it go away.
There are times when depression is natural and we need to live through its discomforts, such as when we’re grieving the death of someone we love. Going through that period of depression is how we heal the hole in our hearts and move into the next phase of our lives.
Dr. Elisabeth Kubler-Ross identified another “natural” form of depression in her 1969 landmark book, On Death and Dying. Based on her interviews with dying patients, she laid out the Five Stages of Grief, which include depression. Her analysis made some years later was that we bounce around through four of the stages—denial, anger, bargaining and depression—before we can work our way to the point of acceptance. These stages hold true for caregivers as well as patients, whether or not there’s a terminal illness involved.
But then there is a deeper form of depression, the kind that can’t be “worked through” and that threatens the well-being of the person suffering from it. Whether the depressed person is a caregiver or a patient, this type that’s not tied to an external circumstance such as a death or the aftermath of diagnosis of a serious illness needs to be dealt with. I guess that’s why those drugs are there.
Symptoms of depression include trouble sleeping or over-sleeping; eating more or less than normal; trouble concentrating; lack of energy and lethargy. The National Institute of Mental Health (part of the National Institutes of Health) recommends seeing a doctor if depression lasts for more than two weeks. My recommendation is that if it’s a “natural cause” let it be so it can be worked through unless it becomes profound to the point of paralysis or thoughts of suicide.
Seeing a doctor doesn’t necessarily mean that you or your loved one must take a prescription drug to overcome depression. Stephen Ilardi, PhD at the University of Kansas has developed a 14-week routine that he calls Therapeutic Lifestyle Change (TLC) to combat depressions. It pairs group therapy with proven depression remedies such as increased sleep, 1,000 milligrams of omega-3 supplements, bright-light exposure, social interaction, and replacing negative thoughts with activity.
To boil TLC down, it is a program of fish oil, psychological therapy, and increased activity, both physical and social. Depression can be tied to being isolated and inactive, so if it’s becoming an issue for you as a caregiver or you see it in your loved one, start by figuring out whether it’s situational—as in grief—or whether it’s tied to isolation and inactivity. And then see what happens if you engage is some of Dr. Ilardi’s TLC practices.
Blessings, Joanne
There are times when depression is natural and we need to live through its discomforts, such as when we’re grieving the death of someone we love. Going through that period of depression is how we heal the hole in our hearts and move into the next phase of our lives.
Dr. Elisabeth Kubler-Ross identified another “natural” form of depression in her 1969 landmark book, On Death and Dying. Based on her interviews with dying patients, she laid out the Five Stages of Grief, which include depression. Her analysis made some years later was that we bounce around through four of the stages—denial, anger, bargaining and depression—before we can work our way to the point of acceptance. These stages hold true for caregivers as well as patients, whether or not there’s a terminal illness involved.
But then there is a deeper form of depression, the kind that can’t be “worked through” and that threatens the well-being of the person suffering from it. Whether the depressed person is a caregiver or a patient, this type that’s not tied to an external circumstance such as a death or the aftermath of diagnosis of a serious illness needs to be dealt with. I guess that’s why those drugs are there.
Symptoms of depression include trouble sleeping or over-sleeping; eating more or less than normal; trouble concentrating; lack of energy and lethargy. The National Institute of Mental Health (part of the National Institutes of Health) recommends seeing a doctor if depression lasts for more than two weeks. My recommendation is that if it’s a “natural cause” let it be so it can be worked through unless it becomes profound to the point of paralysis or thoughts of suicide.
Seeing a doctor doesn’t necessarily mean that you or your loved one must take a prescription drug to overcome depression. Stephen Ilardi, PhD at the University of Kansas has developed a 14-week routine that he calls Therapeutic Lifestyle Change (TLC) to combat depressions. It pairs group therapy with proven depression remedies such as increased sleep, 1,000 milligrams of omega-3 supplements, bright-light exposure, social interaction, and replacing negative thoughts with activity.
To boil TLC down, it is a program of fish oil, psychological therapy, and increased activity, both physical and social. Depression can be tied to being isolated and inactive, so if it’s becoming an issue for you as a caregiver or you see it in your loved one, start by figuring out whether it’s situational—as in grief—or whether it’s tied to isolation and inactivity. And then see what happens if you engage is some of Dr. Ilardi’s TLC practices.
Blessings, Joanne
Saturday, April 21, 2012
SEX AND STRESS SURPRISES
As a caregiver, your worst enemy is stress. The issue is not how to avoid it, because it’s unavoidable when you’re caring for someone with a serious illness, chronic condition or life-changing injury.
Rather than expending energy trying to avoid stress, a caregiver’s goal needs to be learning how to reduce its impact on his or her life.
In a recent article in AARP Magazine, Dr. Mehmet Oz (Dr. Oz of TV fame) offered a helpful explanation of how stress works and a surprising suggestion as to how to reduce its impact.
First, the explanation:
“Chronic stress takes a toll on the body-- there’ the rush of adrenaline that never quite turns off leading to an overproduction of another stress hormone, cortisol. I’ve seen firsthand how excess cortisol places a massive strain on the heart.”
Dr. Oz goes on to explain that recent research is now showing that excess cortisol may also affect our brains, suppressing “neurogenesis, the brain’s ability to create and support new brain cells.”
Since cortisol is bad for our hearts and our heads, how do we turn it off? That’s where the surprise comes in. Dr. Oz recommends two practices for dealing with it—exercise (no surprise here) and sex. Sex???
With both, we’re using our body’s intricate systems to shut down the flow of cortisol and to increase the flow of other neuro-chemicals that will improve the functioning of both our hearts and brains.
He’s not talking about one-time events in either case. Exercise has to be daily to produce benefits. Think in terms of a minimum of 30 minutes. Sex needs to be likewise a regular event—“multiple sexual experiences, daily over two weeks, reduced the release of cortisol, increased neurogenesis, and decreased anxiety-like behaviors.”
So there you have it—doctor’s orders. If you’re a caregiver, you are dealing with increased levels of stress. So get out there and exercise, and also don’t neglect romance. You’ll benefit on lots of levels.
Blessings, Joanne
Rather than expending energy trying to avoid stress, a caregiver’s goal needs to be learning how to reduce its impact on his or her life.
In a recent article in AARP Magazine, Dr. Mehmet Oz (Dr. Oz of TV fame) offered a helpful explanation of how stress works and a surprising suggestion as to how to reduce its impact.
First, the explanation:
“Chronic stress takes a toll on the body-- there’ the rush of adrenaline that never quite turns off leading to an overproduction of another stress hormone, cortisol. I’ve seen firsthand how excess cortisol places a massive strain on the heart.”
Dr. Oz goes on to explain that recent research is now showing that excess cortisol may also affect our brains, suppressing “neurogenesis, the brain’s ability to create and support new brain cells.”
Since cortisol is bad for our hearts and our heads, how do we turn it off? That’s where the surprise comes in. Dr. Oz recommends two practices for dealing with it—exercise (no surprise here) and sex. Sex???
With both, we’re using our body’s intricate systems to shut down the flow of cortisol and to increase the flow of other neuro-chemicals that will improve the functioning of both our hearts and brains.
He’s not talking about one-time events in either case. Exercise has to be daily to produce benefits. Think in terms of a minimum of 30 minutes. Sex needs to be likewise a regular event—“multiple sexual experiences, daily over two weeks, reduced the release of cortisol, increased neurogenesis, and decreased anxiety-like behaviors.”
So there you have it—doctor’s orders. If you’re a caregiver, you are dealing with increased levels of stress. So get out there and exercise, and also don’t neglect romance. You’ll benefit on lots of levels.
Blessings, Joanne
Saturday, April 14, 2012
THE THREAT OF PRESSURE SORES
It’s one of the two caregiving topics no one wants to talk about, much less deal with—bed sores also known as pressure sores or decubitus ulcers. It was complications from these sores that ultimately killed actor/director Christopher Reeve. They absolutely cannot be ignored.
These potentially deadly ulcers form in persons with compromised circulation and decreased mobility. They result because of decreased blood circulation to the skin which causes the skin to break down in places on the body where there is little padding between bone and skin, such as back, tailbone, elbows, heels and hips.
According to www.eldercareteam.com “bed sores are not just something to worry about when someone is in the hospital or a nursing home. Anyone who sits for long periods in the same position, and anyone who is confined to bed is at risk. Because bed sores can have such serious consequences, immediate treatment is necessary for even the smallest sign.”
According to eldercareteam.com there are four stages of these sores:
Stage I: An area of reddened skin which might be painful or itch, and which may feel warm and "spongy" or firm. On individuals with darker skin the affected skin may look flaky, and may have a more purple or blue coloration. Stage I sores usually disappear shortly after the pressure is removed.
Stage II: The wound has opened and looks like an abrasion or a blister. The skin surrounding the wound may be red or purple. If treated quickly and aggressively State II wounds often heal fairly quickly. However, if the person is elderly or has other health issues, healing may take longer and be more difficult. Even these small skin ulcers should be evaluated by a professional. Do not try to treat an open pressure ulcer without medical advice.
Stage III: Damage is no longer just to the superficial area of the skin. The tissue below the skin has been damaged, and the wound is deep and often described as being "crater-like."
Stage IV: Tissue death has progressed to muscle and bone deep under the skin. Damage may involve tendons and joints, as well. Stage IV wounds are extremely difficult, if not impossible, to heal.
Prevention is key in dealing with bed sores:
Check anyone who is relatively immobile daily for skin changes.
Keep the skin clean and dry. Avoid drying soaps, and use moisturizers to keep skin from becoming too dry.
Change clothing and diapers as quickly as possible after they become moist.
Help shift the body position in bed at least every two hours. Someone sitting in a chair should shift even more frequently.
Encourage your loved one to sit upright in chairs. Sliding forward makes it difficult to change position and places damaging pressure on the tailbone. Those who sit for long periods in recliners are especially at risk for pressure ulcers.
Encourage liquids throughout the day, as the skin needs this internal hydration.
Use pillows to prevent pressure on bony areas: Place pillows between the knees and between the ankles; place pillows under the lower leg to lift heels off the mattress; use pillows to brace the back so your patient does not lie directly on a hip bone. Avoid donuts or ring-shaped pillows. These pillows actually increase pressure on the skin they touch and interfere with good blood flow.
Use medical equipment designed to reduce pressure on the skin: egg crate foam mattress pads, sheepskin pads, gel pads, and alternating air mattresses will all reduce the risk of decubitus ulcers. Remember that these items will not prevent skin sores from developing, but they can help reduce the risk.
Caregiving is difficult and demanding work, and staying ahead of conditions like pressure sores is important. Keeping them at bay reduces your caregiver stress and your patient’s discomfort.
Blessings, Joanne
PS The other caregiving topic that no one wants to talk about is incontinence,
These potentially deadly ulcers form in persons with compromised circulation and decreased mobility. They result because of decreased blood circulation to the skin which causes the skin to break down in places on the body where there is little padding between bone and skin, such as back, tailbone, elbows, heels and hips.
According to www.eldercareteam.com “bed sores are not just something to worry about when someone is in the hospital or a nursing home. Anyone who sits for long periods in the same position, and anyone who is confined to bed is at risk. Because bed sores can have such serious consequences, immediate treatment is necessary for even the smallest sign.”
According to eldercareteam.com there are four stages of these sores:
Stage I: An area of reddened skin which might be painful or itch, and which may feel warm and "spongy" or firm. On individuals with darker skin the affected skin may look flaky, and may have a more purple or blue coloration. Stage I sores usually disappear shortly after the pressure is removed.
Stage II: The wound has opened and looks like an abrasion or a blister. The skin surrounding the wound may be red or purple. If treated quickly and aggressively State II wounds often heal fairly quickly. However, if the person is elderly or has other health issues, healing may take longer and be more difficult. Even these small skin ulcers should be evaluated by a professional. Do not try to treat an open pressure ulcer without medical advice.
Stage III: Damage is no longer just to the superficial area of the skin. The tissue below the skin has been damaged, and the wound is deep and often described as being "crater-like."
Stage IV: Tissue death has progressed to muscle and bone deep under the skin. Damage may involve tendons and joints, as well. Stage IV wounds are extremely difficult, if not impossible, to heal.
Prevention is key in dealing with bed sores:
Check anyone who is relatively immobile daily for skin changes.
Keep the skin clean and dry. Avoid drying soaps, and use moisturizers to keep skin from becoming too dry.
Change clothing and diapers as quickly as possible after they become moist.
Help shift the body position in bed at least every two hours. Someone sitting in a chair should shift even more frequently.
Encourage your loved one to sit upright in chairs. Sliding forward makes it difficult to change position and places damaging pressure on the tailbone. Those who sit for long periods in recliners are especially at risk for pressure ulcers.
Encourage liquids throughout the day, as the skin needs this internal hydration.
Use pillows to prevent pressure on bony areas: Place pillows between the knees and between the ankles; place pillows under the lower leg to lift heels off the mattress; use pillows to brace the back so your patient does not lie directly on a hip bone. Avoid donuts or ring-shaped pillows. These pillows actually increase pressure on the skin they touch and interfere with good blood flow.
Use medical equipment designed to reduce pressure on the skin: egg crate foam mattress pads, sheepskin pads, gel pads, and alternating air mattresses will all reduce the risk of decubitus ulcers. Remember that these items will not prevent skin sores from developing, but they can help reduce the risk.
Caregiving is difficult and demanding work, and staying ahead of conditions like pressure sores is important. Keeping them at bay reduces your caregiver stress and your patient’s discomfort.
Blessings, Joanne
PS The other caregiving topic that no one wants to talk about is incontinence,
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)