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

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.

Travel with Mobility Challenges

A Good Time Can Be Had By All

Traveling with someone who has mobility challenges or a chronic health condition requires careful planning before leaving on a trip. To prevent problems during travel:

• Tell the  person’s primary care doctor about the  trip. Ask if there are  any  special care  needs to
  prepare in advance or during travel.
• If going  to a foreign country, ask the  doctor  about immunizations.
• Check the  insurance policy to see what emergencies are  covered. Is medical equipment insured if it gets lost  or stolen? Is evacuation for medical reasons covered?
• Take the person’s health insurance card. Write the  primary care doctor’s phone number on the card  and  the  date of the  last tetanus shot. Take the  insurance benefits booklet. Consider buying travel insurance, but  be sure to read the  policy carefully, including the  fine  print.
• If you spend money  for medical care, medications, or equipment during the  trip, keep all  receipts to get reimbursed.
• If the  person is going  to need medical care  after arriving, make an  appointment with a doctor  in the new  location before you leave  home.
• Carry a card  with the  phone numbers of people to  contact in case  of emergency.
• Consider taking a portable grab bar  for bathrooms.
• Tell the travel agent or airline if the person will need a wheelchair, and  have it marked on the  tickets.
• Tell the  airline about any  special food considerations.
• Call  ahead to the  airline, bus, or train station if you will need assistance getting the  person onboard.

Traveling with  Medications

Pack the  medications the  person in your  care  takes on a regular basis. All medications in any  form  or type and  associated supplies are  allowed through airport security checkpoint once they have been  screened.

• List all  the medications the  person takes and  why, with brand and  generic names. Keep  one copy in your suitcase and  another in your  carry-on.
• Bring enough medications to last the  entire trip—plus some extra. Keep the medications with you at  all  times. Don’t check  them.
• Keep  the  medications in the original containers with the  original prescription labels.
• Make arrangements for refrigerating  medications, if needed.

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: Global_5000