![]() ![]() Put supplies and equipment in a section of the room so the older person can have the rest of the room for personal belongings and furniture. There are many things that you can do, on your own, to help an older person recovering from an illness or surgery. If a special diet is neededĪsk the healthcare provider if a special diet is needed. This can often be done in just two visits and may qualify for Medicare reimbursement. Medicare will often pay for a home health nurse to visit the home, do a physical assessment, and teach home care skills to the family. If you need to learn nursing skillsĪsk the healthcare provider for a referral to a home health agency if you need to learn basic nursing skills, such as how to make a bed with someone in it or how to help an older person to stand up safely. The healthcare provider may refer you to a home health agency that can send a nurse to your home to instruct you in how to give the care that is needed. Ask about the recovery time, diet, exercises, how to take care of a surgical wound, how to give medicines, and, if a special treatment needs to be given, how to do it. You need to ask the healthcare provider what the older person can and cannot do. If you need information on how to manage the older person's care at home You can also call a pharmacist and ask if certain medicines can be or should not be given together. Call the primary healthcare provider if someone else has prescribed medicine and you are not sure the new medicine should be given along with the old medicines. Call the healthcare provider during office hours to discuss the following If you have questions about medicinesĬall the healthcare provider when you are confused about what time to give medicines or whether or not to give them with food. ![]() This usually means a change in the older person's condition that the healthcare provider should know about. Report any symptom that suddenly becomes more severe or difficult to manage. New symptoms mean a change in the older person's condition and should be reported to the healthcare provider. ![]() ![]() In addition to these problems, a person who remains in bed for several days and then gets up may experience dizziness, fainting, stiff joints, weakness, and problems with muscle malfunction (muscles that don't communicate with the brain).Ĭall the healthcare provider immediately If there are any new symptoms Sitting or lying in bed can cause many problems to the body such as bedsores, kidney failure, chest infections, muscles shrinking away, reflexes becoming inactive, and blood pressure increasing. It is a myth that bed rest is good for a person recuperating from illness or surgery. The older person may not want to do new exercises, saying, "I can't," but really meaning, "I'm scared." Introduce new activities slowly and explain them in detail. Ask questions such as, "What clothes would you like to wear today?" and "When would you like to take a walk?"Īs the older person becomes stronger, do not rush him or her into new activities. You should involve him or her in the decision-making process. Give the older person as much control as possible. Keep in mind that he or she was once independent and now needs to depend on you for encouragement and assistance. Tender loving care is the best way to boost the person's spirits. Your goals are to provide safety, support, encouragement, and assistance The healthcare provider can arrange for visiting nurses and therapists to visit the home to assess your equipment needs and to show you how to use it. Hospital staff (nurses, therapists, and social workers, and discharge planners) can tell you what equipment you will need and will make suggestions about how to obtain it. If so, check the yellow pages in your phone book for local medical equipment companies. You may need to purchase or rent medical equipment and assistive devices. At the end of this section is a part on setting up a sickroom and administering care with practical suggestions for giving care to a person who is ill. This section will give you guidance in how to make the older person feel comfortable and at ease while he or she gets stronger with your help and support. Taking care of a family member who is recovering from surgery or an illness can be very demanding for both the caregiver and the person who receives care. ![]()
0 Comments
Leave a Reply. |
AuthorWrite something about yourself. No need to be fancy, just an overview. ArchivesCategories |