Old age and retirement are usually considered the moments when you get to spend the most peaceful time of your life, free from your professional and personal duties. However, this is not a reality for most elderly people.
A perfect picture of retirement can be considerably shaken by health challenges, problems with mobility, chronic diseases, and a changed lifestyle. Things become even more dramatic if the person is bedridden. Unfortunately, this makes them dependent on the help of family members and caregivers.
Besides regular compassion and concern, there are a couple of things you can do to make their lives easier. In addition, these small adjustments and practical tips will help them feel even more comfortable. So, we have prepared a couple of tips you might find useful.
Personal Hygiene Is Vital
If you want to provide your bedridden family member with the best care you can offer, you should take their personal hygiene as one of the primary focuses. Proper hygiene is one of the most essential factors for these kinds of patients.
Even though showering can be quite challenging for a bedridden person, there are a couple of ways to accomplish this task. You can go with a sponge bath or simply use a shower chair to bathe your family member.
One of the priorities is to keep their fingernails and toenails trimmed so that you can avoid scratches and small injuries caused by sharp nails. Take care of their appearance as well.
You should make the haircut and shave appointments that will boost their confidence and make them feel neat. It goes without saying that their clothes should be changed regularly.
In addition, you should add in some softener to soften the fabric and keep the body odor away. Oral hygiene is also something to think about.
You should have a dental kit that will allow them to keep their oral hygiene in check. Just as folks at Nurse Next Door suggest, it is imperative to help our elderly family members live their lives to the fullest regardless of their age and disability.
Proper personal hygiene sounds like a good start.
Bed Hygiene
Not only is personal hygiene among the most important things to do, but maintaining proper bed hygiene is a vital element on the list of good care. Since bedridden people tend to spend most of their time in an adjustable bed, it is of the utmost importance to keep it clean and fresh all the time.
This means that you need to change their bedsheets regularly. If you notice any kind of stain caused by food, dirt, skin, or some other type of filth, in this scenario, you should change their sheets immediately.
Furthermore, you need to make sure that the bed is properly positioned in a room without any moisture and with lots of natural light. 
Take Care of Their Diet
Balanced nutrition is one of the essential components when it comes to the care of elderly people. Giving them well-balanced and nutritious meals will help them feel satisfied.
When a person is bedridden, it becomes a priority to adapt their diet to their current state. One of the things you can do is to keep a record of the meals and bear in mind their eating preferences.
Also, since bedridden people do not have a chance to walk on their feet as much and be active, giving them less caloric food that will not considerably increase their body mass is of the utmost importance.
Communicate with Them
Loneliness and the sense of being excluded from daily life can considerably affect the quality of the mental health of a bedridden person. Especially when they are at a late age.
This is why caregivers should provide them with attention and try to engage them as much as possible. This will make them feel valued and respected.
You don’t need to do too much. You can spend some time talking to them, being genuinely interested in the things they are talking about, and entertain them a bit.
This does not mean that you should prepare a whole performance. Reading them a book or watching a movie together will do the job. Small things make them feel appreciated.
So, you should listen to them and discover their preferences.
Taking care of an elderly person can be a challenging task. However, by taking care of their hygiene, diet, and everyday habits, you will be able to give them a high-quality life.
Instead of giving them only what they need, try to provide them with good communication and some fun. They will appreciate it.
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- When to Put an Elderly Parent in a Nursing Home
- How to cope with an elderly relative that has become aggressive
- 5 Ways to Tell Your Parent is Ready for Assisted Living
