La Jolla Senior Care News

Caring for a Bedridden Elderly Parent

Elder Care in Pacific Beach CA

Elder Care in Pacific Beach CA

Elder Care in Pacific Beach CASome older adults are confined to their bed, usually as the result of a health condition that makes it too difficult to move or walk. After having to spend countless hours in their beds, family members or an elderly care provider may be needed to assist with their care by helping bathe, feed, and dress them. The elder will also need help with chores and other tasks that have become too difficult to do since becoming bedridden.

One common problem among seniors who spend most of their time in bed is the development of bedsores. You may begin to notice a little redness on their skin, but will then see the redness turn into gaping holes that seem to be getting bigger before your eyes. Fortunately, there are ways you or their elder care provider can prevent these sores from forming.

What are Bedsores?

Also known as pressure sores, bedsores occur when too much pressure is placed on the elder’s dry, fragile skin when sitting or lying down. By inspecting the skin daily, especially while giving them a sponge bath, bedsores should be able to get detected early. Early detection can be easily treated with powders, creams, and lotions. However, if these sores are discovered too late, the senior may need to be hospitalized and will possibly need to undergo surgery.

Preventing Bedsores

  • Frequently move them. By gently moving them into onto a different side of the body every 40 minutes, you will be able to relieve the pressure on each side of the body.
  • Inspect the body. A family member or senior care provider should carefully inspect the elder’s body every day to watch for any new growths or rashes that may develop on their skin. The best time to do this is during a sponge bath. Every fold in the skin should also be inspected in order to find out if any bedsores are developing.
  • Change the bedding often. Elders often stay in bed when they are in need of using the bathroom since many use catheters and other tools needed to allow them to easily empty their bladders. It is important that the soiled sheets are often changed because dirty bedding could cause sores and other skin problems to occur.
  • Encourage them to sit if possible. Another way to prevent bedsores is by having the elder sit instead of lie down. You will probably need to help them do this, but encourage them to sit if it is comfortable to do so.

Becoming bedridden will drastically change the elder’s life. You or their caregiver can help by preventing any more damage to their bodies by following these ideas.

La Jolla Nurses Homecare can help your aging parents remain in their own homes, call 858-454-9339. We are a home care agency providing quality and affordable senior care in La Costa, CA, and the surrounding communities."}” data-sheets-userformat=”{"2":767,"3":{"1":0},"4":{"1":2,"2":10667209},"5":{"1":[{"1":2,"2":0,"5":{"1":2,"2":0}},{"1":0,"2":0,"3":3},{"1":1,"2":0,"4":1}]},"6":{"1":[{"1":2,"2":0,"5":{"1":2,"2":0}},{"1":0,"2":0,"3":3},{"1":1,"2":0,"4":1}]},"7":{"1":[{"1":2,"2":0,"5":{"1":2,"2":0}},{"1":0,"2":0,"3":3},{"1":1,"2":0,"4":1}]},"8":{"1":[{"1":2,"2":0,"5":{"1":2,"2":0}},{"1":0,"2":0,"3":3},{"1":1,"2":0,"4":1}]},"9":2,"10":2,"12":0}”>For more information about how the caregivers at La Jolla Nurses Homecare can help your aging parents remain in their own homes, call 858-454-9339. We are a home care agency providing quality and affordable elder care in Pacific Beach, CA, and the surrounding communities.

Source:

http://completewellbeing.com/article/care-for-the-bedridden/

Brittnei Salerno

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