Attention to the Basics Matters

Baths and showers clean, stimulate, and increase circulation in the skin. They can also dry skin, and in some instances, cause chapping.

How often a bath or shower is needed depends on the situation of the person in your care. If urinary incontinence, bowel problems, and heavy perspiration are present, generally, a daily bath may be in order. If not, bathing 2-3 times a week might be enough. If baths are given often and the skin is dry, use soap and water one time, and lotion and water the next. Bed baths are needed for people who are bedridden.

Preparation for Bathing

1. Make sure the room is warm.
2. Gather supplies: latex gloves, mild soap, washcloth, wash basin (for bed bath), lotion, comb, electric razor, shampoo, towels, and clean clothes.
3. Use good body mechanics—keep your feet separated, stand firmly, bend your knees, and keep your back in neutral.
4. Turn on the water and make sure it is the correct temperature.

Bathing Tips

• To avoid spreading germs, always wash your own hands before and after giving a bath.
• Be aware that people with Alzheimer’s are often afraid of water.
• Tell the person that you will be bathing him, and ask for as much help as possible. At each step, tell the person what you are about to do.
• Use special equipment such as a bath lift, a bath board, and a bath seat if needed.
• Always wash from the cleanest to the dirtiest area.

In the next post, you’ll learn about diabetes and foot care for seniors.

Comfort Keepers provides in-home care to seniors and the elderly living in Ocala, Gainesville, and The Villages, Florida. We provide superior in-home care to seniors and the elderly throughout Central Florida so they can live enriched independent lifestyles! Call us today at 855-592-0013.

photo credit: C_Harvey

Taking Care of Yourself - Good Nutrition Is Essential & Easy

Maintaining good nutrition habits is tough for anyone, but especially difficult for caregivers because they are  juggling the potentially selective appetites of a patient, other family members, and  their own personal mealtime likes  and  dislikes. Here are  some simple guidelines:

Drink Water: Water is an  essential nutrient because about 55 percent of your  body is made up of water. Begin  every  day  with a glass of water, drink water between and  at every  meal, and  create the  habit of taking a bottle of water whenever you go out.

Eat Whole Grains: Whole  grains are  part of a healthy diet. Here are  a few ways  to transition from  refined grains to whole grains:  Switch breakfast cereals. Change from  white to whole grain bread. Eat brown rice rather than white rice and  whole grain crackers rather than regular ones.

Close to Perfect Foods: Fruits and  vegetables are  easy  to prepare, they taste good, and  they’re good for you.

Protein Variety: Most  of us get more  protein than we need. The average woman needs about 50-80  grams of protein daily;  an average piece  of chicken contains 34 grams. Make  sure to eat protein from  a variety of sources, not  just meat. Fish, eggs, dairy foods, soy products, and  beans are  good alternatives.

Slimmer & Healthier Tips for Supermarket Shopping

• Avoid shopping when you are hungry and  tempted to buy high-fat, high- calorie snack foods.
• Read  food labels to compare nutrition and calories.
• Buy  fresh foods so you control what is added to your  meal, avoiding the  hidden calories in packaged foods.

Slimmer & Healthier Tips

Your weight is the  balance between the  amount of calories you eat  and  the  number of calories you burn.

• One  can  of soda  every  day  can  add  10 to 15 pounds in a year. A 30 minute daily  brisk walk can  subtract that amount in a year.
• Learn your  actual calorie intake by keeping a diary of what you eat.  Note  your  emotions when you eat  sweets.
• Recommended portion sizes  are  a deck  of cards size  meat or fish and  a tennis ball  size  serving of carbohydrate.
• Fill  half  your  plate with salad and  vegetables and the  other half  with meat and  starches.
• Don’t skip  meals or eat  fewer  than three per  day.
• Begin  to increase calories you burn by adding a few extra steps each  day  using stairs or parking farther away. Stretch several times during the  day.

Comfort Keepers provides in-home care to seniors and the elderly living in Ocala, Gainesville, and The Villages, Florida. We provide superior in-home care to seniors and the elderly throughout Central Florida so they can live enriched independent lifestyles! Call us today at 855-592-0013.
photo credit: nice days, nice places

Making Mealtimes More Enjoyable

Mealtimes are important times for the elderly or ill because they provide a welcome diversion in the day. During holidays meal times are a nice opportunity to socialize. If it is not too distracting have the person in your care eat with the family or others. Expect and ignore spills and less-than-perfect manners. Play music and dress up the table. It is important that mealtimes are enjoyable to encourage eating.

For Best Results at Mealtimes

• Allow 30-45  minutes for eating.
• Avoid cluttered meal presentation.
• Make  sure all items are  ready to eat  and  within reach.
• Provide a consistent, comfortable table/chair or other eating arrangement.
• Supply easy-to-hold eating utensils. To avoid  cuts, throw out all chipped cups  and  plates.
• Minimize excess noise such as television and radio.
• If vision is poor, be consistent with where food is placed on the plate.

Feeding Someone in Bed

1. Prop  the  head with pillows.
2.  Provide an  over-the-bed table.
3.  Do not  rush feeding, but maintain a steady pace.
4.  Cut  the  food into  bite-size portions.
5.  Explain what food is served.
6.  Fill  cups  only half  full.
7.  Let  the  person hold  the  cup if she wants to.
8.  Use  available eating aids  e.g., mugs with two handles, swivel spoons, plate guards and rocker knives.
9.  Keep  a moistened hand towel  to gently wipe  the  person’s mouth and  hands.

Alzheimer’s  and Mealtime

1. Name the  food being  offered.
2.  If the  person plays with food, limit the  choices  being  offered. (Sometimes a person is confused and  unable to make choices.)
3.  Check  the  temperature of the  food.
4.  Be gentle with forks  and  spoons. (Try a rubber-tipped baby  spoon.)
5.  Feed  at a steady pace,  alternating food and  drink.
6.  Remove  a spoon  from  the  person’s mouth very  slowly.  If the  person clenches the  spoon,  let  go of it and wait for the  jaw to relax.
7.  Give simple instructions such  as “open  your  mouth,” “move your tongue,” “now swallow.”
8.  If the  person spits food out  or refuses food, provide a drink and return in 10 minutes with the  food tray.

Comfort Keepers provides in-home care to seniors and the elderly living in Ocala, Gainesville, and The Villages, Florida. We provide superior in-home care to seniors and the elderly throughout Central Florida so they can live enriched independent lifestyles! Call us today at 855-592-0013.

Practical Aids for Living

Little Things Can Help a Lot

Many people  have some  physical limitations, whether these involve moving, seeing, hearing, communicating or using everyday tools  like knives, forks,  spoons, toothbrushes or telephones. Solutions exist for over- coming  these limitations. Below are examples of different types of bath- room  equipment and  other assistive devices.

It is important to assess medical, social,  and  environmental factors to make a good decision on what equipment you need. Before  buying any equipment or signing any  contract for rental, consult your  doctor, physical or occupational therapist, or nurse. Salespeople may  not  have the  training necessary to assist you in making a decision about what you need. Occupational therapists can  consult on low-cost  substitutes for expensive equipment.

With  appropriate doctor’s  orders and  documentation, Medicare or private insurance covers  some equipment. For  individuals covered by Medicare only (or Medicare and private insurance), you should contact your  insurance carrier to check  if the  equipment is covered. Then follow their procedures for pre-authorization.

Eating Aids

• Spoons that swivel  for those who have trouble with wrist movement
• Foam that can be fit over utensils to increase the gripping surface so they can  be lifted  more  easily
• Plate guards or dishes with high sides that make it easier to scoop food onto  a spoon
• Rocker knives that can cut food with a rocking motion
• Food-warming dishes for slow eaters
• Mugs  with two handles, a cover, a spout, and  a suction base

Dressing Aids

• Buttonhooks that make buttoning clothes easy
• Dressing sticks that make it possible to dress without bending
• Long-handled shoehorns so a person doesn’t have to bend  over when putting on shoes
• Lock aids that keep stockings open  while  they are  being  put  on
• Elastic laces for shoes to allow  slip-on

Devices for Summoning Help

• Touch-tone phones with speed dials
• Medical security response systems
• Beepers for the  caregiver
• Wireless transmitters  for emergency response

Comfort Keepers provides in-home care to seniors and the elderly living in Ocala, Gainesville, and The Villages, Florida. We provide superior in-home care to seniors and the elderly throughout Central Florida so they can live enriched independent lifestyles! Call us today at 855-592-0013.