5 Tips for Caring for a Bedbound Senior

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Caring for a bedridden elderly parent can be challenging, which means you’ll need to come up with a long-term treatment and care plan. With a little bit of hard work and some assistance, you should be able to enhance your parent’s quality of life while reducing the risk of several health problems. Developing a treatment and home care plan can also minimize your stress levels so you can continue to enjoy your time with your loved one.

 

1. Create a Comfortable Space

Even if a bedroom seems to be comfortable, things might look a little bit different after your parent has been in the same room for many days in a row. To start off, make sure your loved one has the proper bed, clean linens, and supportive pillows. Your parent is also going to need some type of ongoing entertainment for the periods when you can’t directly interact with him or her. In addition to having a television in the room, your loved one might benefit from having a computer or tablet nearby as well.

 

2. Focus on Hygiene

Developing unhealthy hygiene habits is one of the biggest risks of being bedridden, and you must make sure your parent remains as clean as possible. While every situation is slightly different, you’ll probably need to help your loved one bathe or clean up at least once a day or every other day. You must also make sure your loved one is brushing his or her teeth daily, trimming his or her nails, and keeping his or her hair groomed.

Helping a loved one with hygiene needs can be challenging for some family caregivers to accomplish on their own. If you’re the primary family caregiver for an elderly loved one and need additional assistance providing high-quality home Caregiver in Frederick, Assisting Hands Home Care Frederick can help. We are a leading home care agency committed to helping seniors live longer and healthier lives.

 

3. Watch for Bedsores

A bedsore occurs when an individual remains in the same position for a long time, and it can result in serious medical complications if it isn’t treated immediately. If your parent is unable to move independently, you need to reposition him or her at least once every hour or two. During baths, you can also look over your loved one’s entire body for any early warning signs of bedsores, including unusual swelling, discoloration, dry patches of skin, and tenderness.

 

4. Stick to a Good Diet

Your parent’s diet will be especially important if he or she is going to be bedridden for an extended time. An unhealthy diet can greatly increase the risk of obesity, diabetes, malnutrition, and a wide range of other health problems. Keeping a diet journal can help you track what your loved one is eating and make minor adjustments if you notice he or she is gaining or losing weight too quickly. You can also ask the doctor about recommendations for a nutritious and well-balanced diet. 

Living with serious health conditions can make it challenging for seniors to age in place. However, they can maintain a higher quality of life with the help of professional live-in care. Frederick seniors can benefit from assistance with meal prep, bathing, transportation to the doctor’s office, medication reminders, and much more.

 

5. Don’t Neglect Emotional Health

Being stuck in a bed could have a huge impact on your parent’s mental and emotional wellbeing. Socializing and keeping your loved one entertained could be very beneficial, but you also need to keep an eye out for any signs that he or she might be experiencing depression. If you think your parent’s mental or emotional health is deteriorating, immediately contact a mental health specialist to explore treatment options.

Families who need help caring for senior loved ones can turn to Assisting Hands Home Care, a leading provider of Frederick senior care. Services available in our customizable care plans include meal prep, mental and social stimulation, assistance with personal hygiene tasks, and much more. Assisting Hands Home Care can be your trusted partner in caregiving for your aging loved one. Contact one of our experienced Care Managers today to learn more about our reliable in-home care services.