If your aging parent has recently suffered an illness or injury that prevents them from getting out of bed, they need additional care to make sure their needs are met and they can stay healthy and comfortable during their recovery. It is important for you as a family caregiver to recognize the additional care challenges of a senior who is bedridden so you can help to prevent potentially serious issues such as skin damage and loss of mobility for when they are able to get up. Proper care for your parent as they are going though this time can make a tremendous difference in their health, safety, and well-being later, even if they are permanently confined to their bed.
Use these tips to help you care for an elderly adult who cannot get out of bed:
- Remember the importance of hygiene. Just because your parent is not getting out of bed doesn’t mean they don’t need to stay clean and fresh. Regular hygiene not only keeps your parent feeling comfortable and prevents embarrassing issues such as body odor, but it also reduces the risk of illness and protects the skin from damage that can lead to infection. Sponge baths and use of rinse-free products such as waterless washcloths can help keep their skin clean and healthy without risking moving them out of the bed
- Keep their nails short and smooth. This will help to prevent them from scratching themselves, which can result in injury to their skin
- Make they are properly hydrated. Your senior might not feel as thirsty because they aren’t active, but they still need to get enough fluids throughout the day. Keep water easily accessible and encourage them to sip throughout the day
- Make sure your parent has access to a healthy, balanced diet to provide them with the nutrients they need to stay healthy and strong
- Pay close attention to their skin to prevent the danger of bedsores. This includes keeping their skin clean and dry, moving them regularly, and monitoring their skin to address issues before they worsen
- Ensure your parent has access to forms of entertainment that stimulate their mind and elevate their mental and emotional well-being
If your aging loved one cannot get out of bed, consistent, dedicated care is essential to making sure they stay healthy physically and emotionally. Especially if you are a family caregiver in the sandwich generation, caring for your children as well as your senior, you cannot be with your parent all day, every day to make sure their needs are met effectively. This is where home care can come in. An in-home senior care services provider can step in to care for your parent on a customized schedule. This means they will have access to support and care when it is right for them to protect their physical health and boost their mental and emotional well-being as they age in place.
IF YOU OR AN AGING LOVED-ONE ARE CONSIDERING HOME CARE SERVICES IN WAKE FOREST, NC, PLEASE CONTACT THE CARING STAFF AT SENIORS HELPING SENIORS TODAY. CALL (919) 761-5346.